- This mosaic of tales featuring a Byronic officer is the first major prose novel in Russian literature. Set in the rugged Caucasus, Lermontov"s 1840 psychological masterwork follows the cynical Pechorin as he charges through an exotic land of mountain horse-men, society women, and smugglers, leaving a trail of damaged egos and broken hearts. This Modern Library Paperback Classic also features a glossary and a map of the Caucasus.