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Anna Karenina


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First published between 1875 and 1877.

Translated by Constance Black Garnett (1862-1946) in 1917.

Considered by some to be the greatest novel ever written, Anna Karenina is Tolstoy's classic tale of love and adultery set against the backdrop of high society in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. A rich and complex masterpiece, the novel charts the disastrous course of a love affair between Anna, a beautiful married woman, and Count Vronsky, a wealthy army officer. Tolstoy seamlessly weaves together the lives of dozens of characters, and in doing so captures a breathtaking tapestry of late-nineteenth-century Russian society.

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Set in nineteenth century Russia, this masterpiece illustrates the pressure of living up to the expectations and quota of an unforgiving society and the personal choices individuals face which alter their destinies. A read which leaves the responder unable to forget the lessons taught; it gives true meaning to learning from other people's experiences and mistakes. A guide which leads by example in demonstrating the challenges one faces in the pursuit of happiness and contentment and the gruelling outcomes of what some of these choices produce.

Submitted by Sonja Golub.



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Recent Forum Posts on Anna Karenina

Best translation of Anna Karenina?

I'm planning on reading Tolstoy's Anna Karenina next year and could use some advice on the best translation. Any views? Thanks :D

Posted By TheFifthElement at Sun 16 Oct 2011, 12:19 PM in Anna Karenina || 5 Replies

The similarities between Karenin and Vronsky?

It's no coincidence that both men are called Alexei. But did Tolstoy do this to contrast how different the two Alexeis were, or to suggest that there were similarities?

Posted By kelby_lake at Wed 3 Aug 2011, 6:34 AM in Anna Karenina || 2 Replies

Which film/tv version is the best?

It's a complex novel but which of the various tv and film adaptations did it justice, if any?

Posted By kelby_lake at Tue 31 May 2011, 10:44 AM in Anna Karenina || 0 Replies

Levin and Kitty - Part 4

"...in her lovely eyes shining with happiness he understood everything he needed to know! And he wrote three letters. But she was reading after his hand, and before he finished writing, she finished it herself and wrote the answer: "Yes."' Did anyone else get that wonderfully warm, uplifting feeling when finishing the tender and loving moment these two had with the chalk at the card table? I just read it and feel utterly marvellous. And it is brilliantly done. The embarrassment, pain and humiliation that Levin has in talking about the refusal begins the exchange of notes. But the fact it is done in initials and not each word written out beautifully brings together their understanding of each other and each others pain since that event in Winter. That they have been through the same sorrows and anguish and just wonderfully come together in such an innocent and tender few moments. Fantastic Tolstoy

Posted By Patrick_Bateman at Sat 5 Mar 2011, 3:50 PM in Anna Karenina || 2 Replies

Anna vs. Stiva and adultery

Hi, I have been thinking about this upon finishing the novel: Why is Anna condemned for her passion toward Count Vronsky when Stiva can engage in it with immunity from criticism? What accounts for this? Adultery, ego, gender roles? I would love another opinion. thanks!

Posted By aphymans at Thu 7 Oct 2010, 4:50 PM in Anna Karenina || 11 Replies

From antipathy to empathy for Vronsky?

Did anybody else not like Vronsky for much of this novel and then just at the end, when he's at the train station, they choked all up and felt horrible for him? I've never had such a wide and sudden swing for a character in literature before. It was very fascinating. Of course, if you liked Vronsky throughout then this phenomena would have been stillborn... But did anyone else have this powerful emotive moment for him that blind sided you?

Posted By D.S. Poorman at Thu 1 Apr 2010, 11:01 PM in Anna Karenina || 29 Replies

Best line or quote in Anna Karenina??

What is your favorite line or quote from the book? "He suddenly felt that the very thing that had once been the source of his suffering had become the source of his spiritual joy, that what had seemed insoluble when he condemned, reproached and hated, became simple and clear when he forgave and loved.":bawling: So many to choose from, but this is the one that struck me the most.

Posted By sjb77d at Sat 19 Dec 2009, 9:03 PM in Anna Karenina || 1 Reply

Anna Karenina

I have been listening to Anna Karinina by audio book that I downloaded free on my MP3 player from my library. But I must have slept through part of a chapter and now in Part 7, with just 4 hours to go I would like help in solving a mystery without having to search for the answer. Can anyone tell me how Vronsky got his money? Not long after he began his affair with Anna he was basically broke. If you remember, he had planned to borrow money from a loan shark and sell his horses to pay his current bills and I believe he volunteered that his brother have priority in inheritance. So, toward the end of the book, how does he have an estate where Anna lives with their baby and he is building a hospital and seems to be rich. How did I miss that? If anyone would like info on how to get the free audio downloads, I'm happy to share my info. I imagine my library is not the only one offering this.

Posted By cwell at Sun 19 Jul 2009, 4:34 PM in Anna Karenina || 1 Reply

Levin's Revelation

What exactly was Levin's revelation near the end of the novel? I don't understand what turned him from pretty much an atheist to a devout Christian who saw absolutely no flaws in Christianity or the Christian Church which he doubted before.

Posted By Homers_child at Sat 20 Jun 2009, 9:52 PM in Anna Karenina || 4 Replies

what is the moral of the story?

hey i read the story but i didn't get the moral..is there one? and can anyone tell me the time of the story?

Posted By booksaremyworld at Tue 21 Apr 2009, 6:23 AM in Anna Karenina || 11 Replies

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