Tolstoy’s first published work, completed in 1856, Childhood, Boyhood, Youth recounts his early life up to his university days. These are not memoirs in the strict sense of the word, as the author’s Stendhalian take on the autobiographical genre confronts and blurs the notions of reality and imagination, combining nostalgic anecdote with frank personal assessment and philosophical extrapolation.

An early display of Tolstoy’s storytelling genius, written in his classically simple yet colourful language, these chronicles provide the reader with invaluable insight into the personal and literary development of one of the greatest writers of all time.

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'Someone who sees so much and so completely does not need to invent anything, someone who observes everything so poetically does not need to compose anything.' Stefan Sweig

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