The Demon by Mikhail Lermontov

The book is a narrative poem that tells the tragic tale of a rebellious spirit who, after being banished from heaven, roams the earth, filled with bitterness and ennui. The demon falls in love with a beautiful and pure-hearted mortal princess named Tamara, who is about to enter a loveless marriage. His love, however, brings only devastation. As the demon seeks to connect with Tamara, his attempts ultimately lead to her demise, leaving him cursed with eternal loneliness and regret, and further entrenching his status as an outcast from both heaven and earth. The poem explores themes of passion, alienation, and the clash between the spiritual and the carnal.

The 3729th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 102

Since this book was first published in 1829, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 102.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.