✍️ On 15 October 1814, the great Russian poet and writer Mikhail Lermontov was born. Although his life was tragically short, Lermontov left a monumental literary legacy. His works continue to captivate readers all over the world. His celebrated novel «A Hero of Our Time» has been translated into English numerous times since the mid-19th century and can be easily found in bookstores and libraries across Scotland. In 2015, a bronze bust of the writer sculpted by Stepan Mokrousov was unveiled in Earlston. The Scottish town was once home to the 13th century fabled bard Thomas the Rhymer. He belonged to the ancient Clan of Learmonth and is believed to have been a distant ancestor of the Russian classic. Senior Consul of the Consulate General of Russia in Edinburgh Mariia Zots and its staff paid tribute to Mikhail Lermontov by laying flowers at his monument in Earlston.