Djetinjstvo

The novel, divided into four cycles (in the village, in the city, in the boarding house, summer vacation), combines lyrical realism with deep psychological analysis, establishing Tolstoy's style. Nikolinka lives idyllically in the countryside with her father (a dissolute nobleman), her gentle mother, grandmother, sister and brother Volodya. Everyday life is full of games, lessons with the German governor Karl Ivanovich and love for nature.

But the death of her mother brings the first great pain: the boy suffers in silence, feeling jealousy and powerlessness. In Moscow, he encounters aristocratic society, where he is confronted with a false atmosphere and social differences. At the boarding school, he suffers from abuse from peers and teachers, seeking solace in fantasies. Summer vacation on the estate brings joy: flirtation with twelve-year-old Natalia, dances and a sense of happiness, but also a premonition of the loss of childhood.

Tolstoy masterfully portrays the inner world of a child – from euphoria to existential sadness – with rich descriptions of nature and family rituals. The work criticizes aristocracy, but celebrates pure love and empathy. A classic read, an inspiration for global literature about growing up.