Traveling through the wilds of the Caucasian Mountains a young man makes theacquaintance of Maxim Maximych an experienced soldier and veritable raconteur.As the... » 

Traveling through the wilds of the Caucasian Mountains a young man makes theacquaintance of Maxim Maximych an experienced soldier and veritable raconteur.As they take refuge from the harsh wintry conditions Maximych begins to tellthe scandalous history of his onetime companion Pechorin a selfconfessedrake. Talented and highly intelligent Pechorin is nevertheless weary of theworld and all it has to offer. Cynical in the extreme he can muster no othermotivation than the avoidance of boredom. To this end he embarks upon a seriesof Byronic exploits. Whether kidnapping the daughter of a local chieftainorganizing a smuggling ring fighting duels toying with fate or capturing thehearts of beautiful society women he remains entirely immune from any depth ofemotion. This inspired study of a man and a society in crisis reveals thearchetypal antihero not only of the Russian novel but of world literature. «