Childhood
Childhood, published in 1852, was Leo Tolstoy's first book, the opening part of a trilogy continued in Boyhood and Youth, and it is given here in the English translation by C. J. Hogarth. Told by Nikolai, a boy of ten from a landowning family, it follows a few days and seasons of his life: his gentle German tutor Karl Ivanitch, his mother and father, a hunt, games with his brother and sisters, a first childish love, a children's ball with a mazurka, and the move to Moscow. The story turns on the death of his mother and the devotion of the old housekeeper Natalia Savishna. Tolstoy's attention to small feelings and memories is already fully present. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Childhood
Childhood by Leo Tolstoy can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Childhood online?
Yes. Childhood opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Childhood free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Childhood is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Childhood in the public domain?
Yes. Childhood by Leo Tolstoy is a public-domain work, here in the translation by C. J. Hogarth. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Childhood?
About 2 h 35 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Childhood?
Childhood by Leo Tolstoy is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
