Childhood by Leo Tolstoy (1852)

Name: Childhood
Author: Leo Tolstoy

Childhood is the first novel in Leo Tolstoy's autobiographical trilogy, which also includes Boyhood and Youth. It tells the story of the young Tolstoy, from his birth in 1828 to his departure for university in 1844. The novel follows the young Tolstoy as he grows up in the Russian countryside, surrounded by his family and the people of his village. He experiences the joys and sorrows of childhood, including his first love, his first loss, and his first taste of independence. He also learns about the world around him, from the customs and beliefs of his people to the politics of the day. Throughout the novel, Tolstoy reflects on his own life and the lives of those around him, exploring themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life. He also examines the nature of childhood, and the ways in which it shapes our lives. In the end, Childhood is a powerful and moving portrait of a young man's journey to adulthood.

By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1852 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Historical Fiction · 28 chapters · 38,890 words

First lines

On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o'clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick. He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls. I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes. He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.

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Childhood is listed on Textopian as a novel by Leo Tolstoy, dated 1852 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Date: 1852 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Realism, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Romance
Length: 38,890 words
Structure: 28 chapters, 1,174 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — Childhood is a novel by Leo Tolstoy, a renowned Russian author, and is considered a classic of literary fiction.
Realism — Childhood is a realistic novel, depicting the life of a young boy in 19th century Russia.
Historical Fiction — Childhood is set in 19th century Russia and is based on Tolstoy's own childhood experiences.
Coming of Age — Childhood follows the protagonist's journey from childhood to adulthood, exploring themes of growing up and coming of age.