Childhood

"Childhood" (1852) is Leo Tolstoy's debut novella and the first part of his autobiographical trilogy, offering an intimate and psychologically insightful portrayal of a young boy's early years in 19th-century Russian aristocratic society. Through the eyes of ten-year-old Nikolai Irtenev, the story explores themes of family, loss, social hierarchy, and moral awakening, reflecting Tolstoy's revolutionary approach to capturing the inner experiences of childhood. Set against the backdrop of the Russian gentry, this work introduces enduring themes of moral growth and the journey from innocence to experience that Tolstoy would develop throughout his career.