Boyhood

"Boyhood," known in Russian as "Отрочество," was written between 1852 and 1853 and first published in 1854. This work constitutes the second part of Tolstoy's autobiographical trilogy, following "Childhood" and preceding "Youth" . Sometimes translated as "Knabenalter" in German , the narrative continues the story of Nikolai Irteniev, exploring his reactions to the surrounding world and his developing feelings toward those close to him. It delves into the growing distinctions Nikolai perceives between himself and his older brother, his nascent infatuation with a servant, and the dismissal of his German tutor, Karl Ivanich, whose life story is also recounted.

The narrative's exploration of adolescent self-discovery and the nuanced shifts in personal relationships provides a profound psychological study. Tolstoy's early philosophical views and his engagement with metaphysical questions are discernible within this text, reflecting his youthful intellectual preoccupations . The work's focus on the internal world of a developing individual, alongside the external events that shape his consciousness, positions it as a significant precursor to Tolstoy's later, more expansive psychological novels.

This critical reader's edition presents a modern translation of the original manuscript, crafted for the modern reader with clean, contemporary language and simplified sentence structures that clarify his complex Russian phrasing and specific antiquated references. Supplementary material enriches the text with autobiographical, historical, and linguistic context, including an afterword by the translator on Tolstoy’s personal history, impact, and intellectual legacy, an index of the philosophical concepts he employs—emphasizing Existentialism and influence by Schopenhauer—a comprehensive chronological list of his published writings, and a detailed timeline of his life, highlighting the personal relationships that shaped his philosophy.