C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
Mikhail Lermontov (1814–1841)
Lermontov, Michail Yuryevitch (ler’mon-tov). A celebrated Russian poet; born at Moscow, Oct. 15, 1814; died on July 27, 1841. He was an officer in the Imperial Guards in 1837, when, in a passionate poem, he gave vent to his indignation over the death of Pushkin. The poem, ‘The Poet’s Death,’ gave offense at court, and Lermontov was relegated to the Caucasus, there to serve as ensign in a dragoon regiment. He is at his best in lyric and narrative poetry. The most noteworthy of his rather Byronesque epics are: ‘The Novice’; ‘Ismail Bey’; ‘Valerik’; ‘The Dæmon.’ His fine novel, ‘A Hero of Our Time’ led to a duel in which he fell.