Youth by Leo Tolstoy, translated by Charles James Hogarth, is the third and final book in Tolstoy’s semi-autobiographical trilogy, following Childhood and Boyhood. First published in 1857 in the Russian magazine Sovremennik, this novel marks the completion of Tolstoy’s earliest literary efforts. In Youth, Tolstoy reflects on his experiences during his first year at college, capturing the excitement, confusion, and personal growth that accompany this transitional period in life.

Through his relationships with professors and fellow students, Tolstoy explores the joys and challenges of young adulthood while grappling with complex social issues like equality and personal identity. Although Tolstoy later criticized his early works for being overly sentimental, Youth remains an insightful and honest portrayal of the turbulence and transformation of adolescence, providing a glimpse into the mind of one of literature’s greatest figures as he navigated the passage from innocence to experience.