Childhood, Boyhood, Youth

Childhood, Boyhood, Youth is a semi-autobiographical novel by the renowned Russian author Leo Tolstoy. The book is divided into three parts, each of which chronicles a different stage in the life of its protagonist, Nikolenka Irtenev. The first part, Childhood, follows Nikolenka's early years growing up in the countryside with his family. Through his eyes, we see the world of the Russian gentry in the mid-19th century, with its traditions, customs and social hierarchies. We also witness Nikolenka's first experiences of love, loss and betrayal.In the second part, Boyhood, Nikolenka is sent away to school in Moscow, where he struggles to adapt to the strict discipline and academic demands of his new environment. He also grapples with his growing awareness of the social injustices and political unrest that are sweeping through Russia at the time.The final part, Youth, sees Nikolenka return to the countryside and begin to forge his own path in life. He falls in love with a young woman named Masha, but their relationship is complicated by the class differences between them and Nikolenka's own conflicted feelings about his place in society. Throughout the book, Tolstoy's vivid descriptions and keen insights into human nature offer a poignant and insightful portrait of a young man's journey towards self-discovery and maturity. Childhood, Boyhood, Youth is a classic coming-of-age story that continues to resonate with readers today.1886. Russian author, considered one of the greatest of all novelists. Tolstoy's major works include War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Childhood is the first part of Tolstoy's first novel, which won immediate praise from Turgenev and others, and established him as a major writer. Its originality was striking, as Tolstoy sought to communicate with great immediacy the poetry of childhood-the intense emotions, confusions, and fears attendant upon a young boy, Nikolenka, as he grows up. In the years following, Boyhood and Youth appeared, each replete with psychological and philosophical subtleties hitherto unknown in Russian literature. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.