Boyhood

Growing older means discovering that the world is far more complicated than childhood ever imagined.

In Boyhood, Leo Tolstoy continues the deeply personal journey begun in Childhood, tracing the emotional and intellectual awakening of the young Nikolai Irtenyev as he enters adolescence. Confronting new friendships, family relationships, insecurities, and the first stirrings of independence, Nikolai begins to see the world with greater complexity and self-awareness.

Through moments of joy, embarrassment, longing, and reflection, Tolstoy captures the universal experience of growing up with extraordinary psychological insight. Rich in observation and emotional honesty, Boyhood is both an intimate coming-of-age story and a timeless meditation on identity, memory, and the passage from innocence to maturity.

• First published in 1854
• The second volume of Tolstoy's autobiographical trilogy
• A classic coming-of-age novel and an early masterpiece of psychological realism

Formats and delivery

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Audiobook — Professionally narrated, complete, and unabridged. Available on Audible, Spotify, Apple Books.

A beautifully observed novel that captures the uncertainties, discoveries, and quiet transformations that shape the journey from childhood toward adulthood.

About the Author

Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) was one of the greatest novelists and thinkers in world literature. A Russian writer whose works transformed fiction through their psychological depth, moral inquiry, and profound understanding of human nature, Tolstoy created enduring masterpieces including War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and The Death of Ivan Ilyich. His writings influenced generations of authors and thinkers, and his exploration of spirituality, social justice, and nonviolent resistance continues to inspire readers around the world.