"Boyhood" (1854) is the second installment of Leo Tolstoy's autobiographical trilogy, following "Childhood" and preceding "Youth." The novel chronicles a pivotal period in the life of Nikolai Irtenev, a sensitive and introspective young Russian aristocrat. As Nikolai transitions into adolescence, he grapples with self-consciousness, first stirrings of attraction, and a growing awareness of social distinctions and injustice. He endures the pain of his grandmother's death, navigates complex relationships with family and classmates, and begins to question vanity and cruelty. With remarkable psychological depth, Tolstoy portrays the turbulence, idealism, and quiet disillusionment of youth, establishing himself as a master of introspective fiction.
