Childhood, Boyhood and Youth (riverrun editions)

Childhood, Boyhood, and Youth is Tolstoy's first published work, a self-portrait narrated by Nikólya that captures the textures of adolescence with psychological insight and subtlety. The riverrun edition reissues the translation of Louise and Aylmer Maude, whose influential versions of Tolstoy first brought his work to a wide readership in English.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 12 November 2020
Publisher: Quercus Publishing

The captivating illusion that arises while reading Tolstoy is that one is peering directly into the world, rather than simply observing a portrayal crafted by Andrew O Hagan from his preface to Childhood, Boyhood, and Youth. Published in 1852, when the author was just twenty-four years old, Childhood marked Tolstoy's debut as a published writer and the first installment of a trilogy that vividly captures the upbringing and traditional education of a Russian aristocrat in a world that vanished with the revolutionary fervor. Within this self-portrait, narrated by its protagonist Nikólya, the young Tolstoy skillfully captures the intricate textures of adolescence, showcasing a profound psychological insight and a subtlety of analysis that foreshadow his later achievements. At the same time, his unparalleled objectivity, evident in his ability to evoke the scents, sights, and sounds of early childhood, is already fully present in these very pages.

The riverrun edition reintroduces the translation of Louise and Aylmer Maude, whose influential versions of Tolstoy's work first introduced his writings to a broad English-speaking audience. Through their meticulous translation, these editions have played a significant role in making Tolstoy's profound and timeless works accessible to a wider readership, allowing individuals from diverse backgrounds to delve into his rich literary tapestry and experience the beauty of his storytelling firsthand.

Weight: 324g
Dimension: 130 x 198 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787479302