Childhood. Adolescence. After the ball. Prisoner of the Caucasus

Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy (1828–1910)-classic of world literature, the greatest master of psychologism, creator of the epic novel, the original thinker. The book includes the novels “Childhood” (1852) and “adolescence” (1854), the stories “Caucasian captive” (1872) and “After the Ball” (1886). The reader meets Nikolenka Irteniev, a kind, affectionate boy who loves his parents and all in the world and interested in absolutely everything that surrounds him. The writer explores the behavior, thoughts and feelings of the child at various points of his life, shows the stages of his growing up and the formation of personality. The story “Caucasian captive” about Russian officers Zhilina and Kostylina in captivity with the highlanders is partly based on the real events that occurred with L. N. Tolstoy during his service in the Caucasus. The story “After the Ball” is based on the events that occurred with the older brother L. Tolstoy Sergey. Sergei Nikolaevich was in love with the daughter of a military boss and visited their house. But after the beating of a cursory soldier under the guidance of the girl’s father, the feelings of a lover quickly cooled, and he refused the intention to marry her.