The composition of this novel in verse occupied a substantial portion of Pushkin`s most productive years, from 1823 to 1831. His subject matter, genre, and even the meter he chose, were all influenced by Lord Byron and, in particular, Childe Harold (1812-1818). Eugene Onegin is an educated dandy in Petersburg society, an archetype for the superfluous man in Russian literature who suffers from melancholy and an aching but willful detachment from the conventional aristocratic lifestyle. These very qualities make him the object of Tatyana Lavin`s love when he decides to accompany his friend Lensky on an excursion to court Olga Lavin. Tatyana soon declares herself in a letter to Onegin, but he believes that his temperament is beyond the possibility of love, that he could never be happy, and he tells her so. A few weeks later Onegin reluctantly accepts an invitation to Tatyana`s name-day party and, feeling spiteful about the whole affair, provokes Lensky by dancing with Olga. Thinking his good friend will not go through with it, Lensky challenges Onegin to a duel. Mechanically, Onegin accepts the challenge and the following day Lensky is killed. Olga is inconsolable and Tatyana is taken away to Moscow by her family to find a suitable husband. Years pass, and when Onegin next sees Tatyana at a Petersburg ball she has married a wealthy prince and is a prominent member of society. He now finds himself consumed with desire for her and writes her a letter that mirrors the one he received from her years earlier. Onegin waits in vain for her reply until finally he visits her at home. Tatyana admits that her love for him has not diminished, but her position in society, her duty towards her husband, outweigh his unwelcome, belated, and tactless emotions.