Mikhail Lermontov

Moderate Aktualizováno: 2025-12-07

Research Status: Moderate Last Updated: 2025-12-07 Diary Coverage: Book 00 (1884 preface)

Identity

Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov (1814-1841) was one of Russia's greatest Romantic poets, second only to Pushkin in literary fame. Marie mentions him as a contemporary of her maternal grandfather.

Biography

Early Life:

Born 1814 in Moscow
Descended from Scottish family Learmonth
Grew up in Tarkhany estate (now Lermontovo, Penza Oblast)
Influenced by English literature, especially Byron

Literary Career:

Began writing poetry at age 13, inspired by Lord Byron
Wrote over 30 long narrative poems and 600 short lyrics
Author of "A Hero of Our Time" (1840), Russia's first psychological novel
Major works: "The Demon" (1839), "The Corsair," "The Angel"

Death:

Killed in a duel in 1841 at age 26
Like Pushkin, died young in a duel
His early death cemented his legendary status

Connection to Byron

Lermontov was deeply influenced by Lord Byron:

Wrote in Byron's Romantic style
Shared Byron's rebellious spirit
A friend described him as "married to a hefty volume of Byron"
This Byronic influence was characteristic of educated Russians of his generation

The Caucasus Connection

"The poet of the Caucasus":

Exiled to the Caucasus after writing a poem denouncing Pushkin's killers
The exile became inspiration - he loved the region from childhood
Studied local languages and folklore
Painted Caucasian landscapes extensively
Wrote celebrated poems about the Caucasus

Connection to Bashkirtseff Family

Marie identifies her maternal grandfather as "le contemporain de Lermontoff, Pouchkine etc." This places her grandfather in the educated Russian nobility of the 1820s-1840s who:

Were cultured and literary ("militaire lettré")
Embraced Byronic Romanticism
Served in the Caucasus
Wrote poetry as gentlemen amateurs
Participated in the intellectual ferment of pre-reform Russia

This generational context helps explain Marie's grandfather's character as a "Byronic" figure who was both military officer and poet.

Historical Context

Lermontov's generation represented Russian Romanticism at its height:

Influenced by Western European literature (Byron, Lamartine)
Increasingly critical of autocracy
Often exiled for political expression
Combined military service with literary pursuits
Died young, often in duels

Related Entries

#Pushkin - Russia's greatest poet, died 1837
#Lord_Byron - Major influence on Russian Romantics
#Grand_papa - Marie's grandfather, Lermontov's contemporary
#Caucasus - Setting for Lermontov's major works

Sources

%% 2025-12-07T12:10:00 RSR: Created entry based on Marie's reference to her grandfather's generation and cultural context %%