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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

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, 10:52 PM in Anna Karenina || 3 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, 7:23 AM in Anna Karenina || 6 Replies

A Question of Nomenclature

I've been wondering as I read, why are the upper class characters identified as 'Prince' and 'Princess'? Is there something that gets lost in translation? I'm just curious! Thank you!

Posted By *Classic*Charm* at Mon 23 Mar 2009, 8:19 PM in Anna Karenina || 5 Replies

Which Translation?

Hello, I have had Anna Karenina on my list for some time now, and decided finally to get to reading it. But which English translation should I choose? There are quite a few available. Generally, I prefer translators that allow for some artistic license, but of course I don't want to get too far from the original text. I am leaning toward the Pevear and Volokhonsky version, but I'm just not sure. Any opinions? Also, if anybody has some information as to the relative differences between translations, please shed some light. Thanks!

Posted By ndavis at Fri 16 Jan 2009, 10:38 PM in Anna Karenina || 0 Replies

is 'anna karenina' the best novel ever or not?

oppinions please. cant have my own oppinion since i havent read it yet, but ive heard so much about this book... is it really the most valuable book ever? if you dont think its 'anna karenina', then what book do you think its THE ONE?

Posted By evening_read at Sat 10 Jan 2009, 8:32 PM in Anna Karenina || 65 Replies

Translation

Having read the first chapter of Anna Karenina, I was disappointed at the quality of the translation by Constance Black Garnett. Even though I don't speak Russian I could read from the English text that it was translated from a foreign language. The English sentences sometimes read unnatural - they did not flow (indicating it was translated literally rather than contextually) and the translator uses the comma freely: seemingly not following the rules of English punctuation! The key to a successful translation is to do it in such a way that the reader should not even suspect that the text was originally written in a foreign language. Of course, it is a classic book and one of the greatest in the world; no doubt about that. I am just commenting on the quality of the translated text.

Posted By guyk at Tue 30 Dec 2008, 3:49 AM in Anna Karenina || 0 Replies

Anna: Friend or Foe?

I'm nearing the end of the novel. (Part 7: Chapter 25) My dislike for Anna Karenina (the character) has increased to breaking point. I would rather have this novel dubbed "Kostya Levin" :lol: Seriously now; Anna Karenina is the epitome of self seeking and narcism. Deserting her (supposedly beloved) son for the love of a man (clearly willing to die for her) only to question this man's love on account of her self centred existence. "And all at once she knew what was in her soul. Yes, it was that idea which alone solved all. "Yes, to die!... And the shame and disgrace of Alexey Alexandrovitch and of Seryozha, and my awful shame, it will all be saved by death. To die! and he will feel remorse; will be sorry; will love me; he will suffer on my account." With the trace of a smile of commiseration for herself she sat down in the armchair, taking off and putting on the rings on her left hand, vividly picturing from different sides his feelings after her death." This book vividly sketches the idolising of exterior beauty and its aftermath as well as the contempt the world has for all things pure and spiritual.

Posted By Danny Tortilla at Thu 11 Dec 2008, 8:58 AM in Anna Karenina || 4 Replies

Anna Karenina

I have recently read Anna Karenina and it’s a great book indeed. I think Leo Tolstoy is a pioneer as he has laid the foundations of interior monologue. The way he takes a reader deep down into the mind of a character is splendid, specially the thoughts of Anna before committing suicide and in the last chapters where Levin seeks the path to Christianity. I also want to say a few words about the character Konstantin Levin. He is sincere, sensitive, agonistic yet a true Christian. His naïve and honest nature stands in high contrast with complex and superficial higher society of Russia, he is a person who leads a simple life and loves to spend his time around the ordinary peasants of his country. Tolstoy has lent him the traits of a philosopher and a thinker; in fact he carries within him the thoughts of Tolstoy himself.

Posted By Snowqueen at Sun 30 Nov 2008, 10:14 AM in Anna Karenina || 0 Replies

Should I read Anna Karenina?

I always hear or see on lists that it's one of the best novels, or at the least the best Tolstoy novel. The thing is, I happen to know the whole train incident near the end.. I don't want to actually say it for spoilers etc Will this book still be enjoyable regardless, I mean there are hundreds of pages, surely knowing that one part isn't going to deter my enjoyment of the book?

Posted By SirJazzHands at Mon 28 Jul 2008, 8:27 AM in Anna Karenina || 16 Replies

Anna

I just finished reading this book and thought I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought it was really very good, I could not stand Anna. I started out liking her but as the story progressed she just became completely irritating. She was like a little spoiled child who only thought and cared about her own personal happiness no matter at who's expense. If she was unhappy, she would throw a tantrum to make sure everyone else around her was also unhappy. I could not really bring myself to feel any sympathy for her sense she was completely responsible for the position she put herself in. I also always felt bad for her husband Karenine, she seemed to me to always unfairly judge him. I was really disappointed at the beginning to the book when Dolly let Anna talk her into reconciling with her husband. When the story first started, I kept rooting for Dolly to just take the kids and walk out on Stiva. Then I kept wanting him to get busted again. Though in spite of my feelings about Anna, I still did find the ending of the story to be rather sad.

Posted By Dark Muse at Sat 26 Apr 2008, 12:12 PM in Anna Karenina || 2 Replies

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