Childhood, Boyhood, Youth Series

This sweeping trilogy chronicles a young man's profound journey from childhood through adolescence into the complexities of adulthood. It delves into the intricate formation of identity, exploring the moral and philosophical questions that shape a developing mind. The series offers a rich tapestry of personal growth, societal pressures, and the universal quest for meaning. Readers will find a compelling and timeless exploration of what it means to come of age.

Recommended Reading Order

1
Childhood
Lew Nikolajewitsch Tolstoi
114 pages
4 hours of reading
3.3(20)Add rating
The trilogy encapsulates Tolstoy's exploration of a young individual's journey towards self-awareness, reflecting on the complexities of life through vivid storytelling. Spanning his formative years, it offers a rich tapestry of experiences that foreshadow themes and techniques later developed in his masterpieces like "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina." Despite the author's later dismissal of the work as a blend of fact and fiction, readers have long appreciated its insightful portrayal of youth against a backdrop of clarity and diversity.
2
Boyhood
Lew Nikolajewitsch Tolstoi
96 pages
4 hours of reading
4.0(1)Add rating
Again two carriages stood at the front door of the house at Petrovskoe. In one of them sat Mimi, the two girls, and their maid, with the bailiff, Jakoff, on the box, while in the other-a britchka-sat Woloda, myself, and our servant Vassili. Papa, who was to follow us to Moscow in a few days, was standing bareheaded on the entrance-steps. He made the sign of the cross at the windows of the carriages, and said: "Christ go with you! Good-bye." Jakoff and our coachman (for we had our own horses) lifted their caps in answer, and also made the sign of the cross. "Amen. God go with us!" The carriages began to roll away, and the birch-trees of the great avenue filed out of sight.
3
Youth
Lew Nikolajewitsch Tolstoi
182 pages
7 hours of reading
5.0(1)Add rating
Focusing on the transition from adolescence to adulthood, the novel explores Nikolenka's experiences as he navigates friendship, love, and personal growth while preparing for university. Through his relationship with Dmitri and the emotional challenges he faces, readers witness his awakening to complex feelings and moral revelations. This semi-autobiographical work captures the essence of youth, nostalgia, and the bittersweet nature of memories, showcasing Tolstoy's emerging literary prowess and philosophical depth that would characterize his later masterpieces.