Детские годы Багрова-внука

A Family Trilogy #2

by Sergei Aksakov, Сергей Аксаков

«Детские годы Багрова-внука» — одно из самых известных произведений С. Т. Аксакова (1791–1859). Это история становления души, неизменно вызывающая интерес, в какой бы эпохе, исторической и культурной, ни пребывал читатель. Аксакову удалось рассказать о детстве, «не подделываясь к детскому возрасту», но при этом раскрыв внутренний мир ребенка — его интерес к окружающей жизни, потребность доверительного общения, ощущения родства с природой, отечественной историей, национальными преданиями. Не случайно в приложении к этой книге Аксаков поместил сказку «Аленький цветочек», однажды рассказанную маленькому Багрову крепостной ключницей Пелагеей.

Genres: Russia, Classics, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1858

About the author

Acclaimed for his realistic prose, Sergei Timofeyevich Aksakov (Russian: Сергей Аксаков) captured the essence of Russian life in his trilogy of reminiscences—A Russian Gentleman, Years of Childhood, and A Russian Schoolboy. He also wrote literary sketches, and appreciations of hunting and fishing. Nikolai Gogol, a friend and correspondent, once wrote to Aksakov: "Your birds and fishes are more real than my men and women."

Reviews

[Vit Babenco · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best thing about Years of Childhood is that Sergei Aksakov managed to keep in his novel a child’s perception of the surrounded world so everything described in the book is seen through the innocent boy’s eyes.

I am very ill, and not at the beginning of the illness which lasted more than eighteen months, nor at the end of it when I was on the way to recovery: the precise point of recollection is a state of such weakness that my life was in danger every moment. Once in the early morning I woke, or became conscious, and could not recognise where I was. All was unfamiliar: the large, lofty room, the bare walls of fir planks, new and very thick, the strong smell of resin.

The language of narration is slightly archaic but very agreeable and masterfully painted images are very vivid and bright.

What an astonishing thing travel is! What an invincible power it has to calm and to heal! It detaches you suddenly from the familiar sphere – whether you like or dislike it, makes no difference – from the steady course of varied activity which constantly distracts your attention with a multitude of objects; it concentrates your thoughts and feelings upon the narrow world of a travelling carriage; it directs your attention first to yourself, then to memories of the past, and finally to dreams and hopes for the future; and all this takes place clearly and quietly, with no hurry or confusion. This was just what happened to me then.

And this powerful impression made by the boy’s journey, first in his life, stayed with him all his life, and ever since he fell in love with the nature and everything connected with it.
Seeds, sown in our minds in our early childhood, will sprout and will be growing along with us and eventually they will become our beliefs.

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautifully written, dates from earlier than most Russian fiction you will have read, early 19th century, the generation or 2 before. Interesting and beautifully written. Free on gutenberg
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38781
read because Duff learned Russian just to translate it and his translation of Herzen is a favourite book, very passionate and romantic bildungsroman-autobiography. Beautiful nature writing, fascinating history, from the time of Russian colonization of the Urals and other now breakaway republics...

[Illiterate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine portrait of a child’s inner and outer worlds. His relationship with his mother is cloying and suffocating.

[Old Man JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinarily written memoir of Aksakov's early childhood. In the book Aksakov talks about his early years and some of the major events that occurred in his life. He recalls his own poor health at a very early age and how much his mother cared for him and then he talks about his mother's own health problems and how close she came to dying. He and his sister had been taken to his grandparents country estate and left for several months while his mother recovered her health. It was a dismal time for him because he would often have to spend most of his time in his bedroom so as not to bother his grandfather. Eventually his parents came to pick his sister and him up and took them back to their home in Ufa. After a period of time they received news that his grandfather was dying and so they went back to the country estate. when the grandfather died his grandmother wanted his father to come and take control of the estate which he reluctantly agreed to do, against his mothers wishes. So, after a period when his father went back and forth from their home in Ufa to the estate his father finally quit his job and they moved to the estate. Aksakov learned his love of nature after moving to the estate. His story was interesting but the real beauty in the book was Aksakov's beautiful descriptive and poetic writing.

[James Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I read this too long ago to offer details, I do remember it as being an enjoyable depiction of country life in late 18th century Russia. I don't remember a lot actually happening in the book, rather that it stood out because of its precise (and sometimes detached) descriptions of his family and of the world as seen through the eyes of a precocious child. If I saw another book by Aksakov in a bookstore I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

[Trounin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Предания о деяниях предков закончились, пришла пора рассказывать о себе. Лаконичный слог сменился пространными историями, где основное место отведено истерикам представленного главным героем Сергея Багрова и излюбленному им занятию по ужению рыбы. Всё прочее имеет малое значение, уступающее постоянным капризам и восхищению от единения с природой. Полностью верить рассказанному не следует, учитывая количество прошедших лет и тот факт, что рассказчик помнит даже такое, как его младенцем кормила грудью кормилица. Надо настроиться на такой лад, чтобы не допускать полного сходства между Аксаковым и Сергеем Багровым.

(c) Trounin

[Olga Kuminova · Rating 5 out of 5]

С детства помню этот восхитительный мир, в котором рос рассказчик, и который Аксакову удалось передать во всей его свежести. Когда читала в детстве, воспринимала эмоциональный строй и моральные установки семьи Багровых просто как должное, но сейчас вижу, что эти герои - одни из самых утонченно добрых, любящих, морально рафинированных, какие мне встречались в литературе. И вряд ли эта часть вымышлена автором, а не основана на собственном опыте, характере и установках.

[D. Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enchanting account of a Russian boy's early days. Crowded with strong characters, his Mother the most impressive. Remembrances of fishing with his father and taking long trips in terrible conditions to visit strange characters are vividly drawn and often hilarious. After the narrative ends the author adds a fairytale his nursemaid told him. Please read the tale, its spell overwhelms.

[Kerr Lee]

P19 God does not hesitate to compare things to a mosquito nor to anything bigger than it. Those who believe realize that it is the truth from their Lord, while those who disbelieve say: “What does God want in such a comparison?”

[Ann Chi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Не знаю уж зачем и почему, но читала это в школьные годы и даже зачиталась. Возможно, было мало альтернатив) Занудненько, но ведь понравилось же) Так что можно оставить это у себя в списке прочитанного.

[Sharon Zink · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is NOT the book I read, but my book was not listed with Goodreads. I read The Family Chronicle, by the same author. It said it was about settling the eastern frontier of Russia, and it was that. But it was mostly about family relationships, and it was very enjoyable.

[Capgord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the descriptions of 'first spring in the country'. Wildlife was so abundant then.