All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Anna karenina oprahs book club by leo tolstoy is a very long book. May 17, 2016 since the topics are about the book, i think im eligible to answer. Anna, miserable in her loveless marriage, does the barely thinkable and succumbs to her desires for. Anna karenina opens with one of the most crazyfamous sentences of all time. Ive readheard only very positive responses from people, and know that many critics think that its literally the greatest book ever written. Sep 01, 2012 francine prose, author of blue angel and my new american life. A k is not exactly a difficult book 2 read but u may feel confused while reading it as it has a lot of charactersbut the story is gud. I would highly recommend anna karenina as a book, and think this particular clothbound penguin is quite nice. Buy anna karenina penguin classics book online at low.
The annoying movie ad on goodreads the blinking and. Nov 24, 2014 the book might be called anna karenina but its not actually a book about anna, rather its a book written around the idea of anna. Ive always been afraid of picking him up because, well, the russians are just so daunting but, since im trying to. It was initially released in serial installments from 1873 to 1877 in the periodical the russian messenger. Editions of anna karenina by leo tolstoy goodreads. Leo tolstoy 1828 1910, translated by constance garnett 1861 1946 anna karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious anna and the dashing officer, count vronsky. Reviews are the hardest to write when the is exceptional. Eventually, anna is able to bring stiva and dolly to a reconciliation. Her overwhelming charm dominates a novel of unparalleled richness and density. Anna karenina, translated by louise and aylmer maude i am a fan of tolstoys anna karenina, though i prefer his heftier classic, war and peace, which is an actionpacked popcorn read, almost like reading a movie. Anna karenina is set in nineteenthcentury russia, exploring relationships, death and controversy between tradition and freethinking.
Anna karenina by leo tolstoy translated by constance garnett. Stivas sister, anna karenina, arrives to reconcile the couple and dissuades dolly from getting a divorce. Each panellist spoke with such passion and enthusiasm, too. Tragedy unfolds as anna rejects her passionless marriage to follow her heart and must endure the hypocrisies of society. Jan 20, 2012 anna karenina oprahs book club by leo tolstoy is a very long book. Anna karenina, 1935 this movie version stars greta garbo as anna karenina. Librivox recording of anna karenina, book 7, by leo tolstoy. Anna karenina, novel by leo tolstoy, published in installments between 1875 and 1877 and considered one of the pinnacles of world literature. It doesnt really feel like a proper hardback, and is a bit difficult to keep open properly due to the type of binding which is more like a soft cover, but it is good for its price. Yet anna karenina is a book that covers much more than one womans misguided love affair. Anna karenina was written in eight installments,so each part in the book has its own climax and memorable scenes.
Anna karenina by leo tolstoy free online book and ebooks. Why is anna karenina admired as a literary masterpiece and. Part one chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 3 chapter 4 chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7 chapter 8 chapter 9 chapter 10 chapter 11 chapter 12 chapter chapter 14 chapter 15 chapter 16 chapter 17 chapter 18 chapter 19 chapter 20 chapter 21 chapter 22 chapter 23. Nov 28, 20 i would highly recommend anna karenina as a book, and think this particular clothbound penguin is quite nice. Many writers consider anna karenina the greatest work of literature ever and tolstoy himself called it his first true novel. Anna karenina by leo tolstoy published by vintage books on 1877 genreslists. Leo tolstoys psychological novel anna karenina follows the life of the enchanting and rebellious anna who seeks to break free from the shackles of society. Wikisource has original writing related to this article. Meanwhile, dollys younger sister, kitty, is courted by two suitors. The very title of my dissertation, visualizing anna karenina, indicates my bifocal interest in the metamorphoses of lev tolstois novel anna karenina 187577 through a process of appropriation in visual media and, specifically, its cinematic adaptations as a cultural force that elevates the literary source to the level of myth. Anna karenina is a novel by the russian author leo tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878.
Nov 16, 2012 you might be surprised to learn that a good chunk of anna karenina isnt even about anna. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Konstantin levin, stivas friend, arrives in moscow to propose to the eighteen year old kitty shtcherbatsky. Every new reader of anna karenina is a possible reader of war and peace.
That is why i was so happy to find the first tuesday book club discussing anna karenina. Anna karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious anna and the dashing officer, count vronsky. Dec 23, 2012 anna karenina, the film, ostensibly follows the arc of the novel, and the screenplay by tom stoppard includes many of the main characters and main scenes. Half of the book follows the trials of the farmer konstantin levin played by domhnall gleeson in the film.
But after a period of close to 2 months, i have finally finished this epic and i feel that tolstoy was a man par excellence. Tolstoy considered this book to be his first real attempt at a novel form, and it addresses the very nature of society. Anna karenina is also a crisis novel because it talks about hypocrisy and the judgmental society that sanctions any form of adultery as long as the marriage exists even if it is just on a piece of paper and the spouses drifted away for each other a long time ago. Francine prose, author of blue angel and my new american life. Paperback published in 2012, 1593080271 paperback published in 2003, 0143035002 paperback published in 2004, 0451528611. It was initially released in serial installments from 1873 to 1877 in the periodical the russian.
Anna, miserable in her loveless marriage, does the barely thinkable and succumbs to her desires for the dashing. I admit it, this book nerd got a little bit excited. Anna karenina poignantly reveals the way each class thinks of the other, and the struggles within both levels of the caste system. I have recently read this book with few digressions here and there. The book is a wonderfully bound book with black and white original illustrations from this classic original story of love by the talented russian author leo nikolayevich tolstoy.
But there is no doubt that anna karenina, generally considered tolstoys best book, is definitely one ripping great read. Sure, her love affair with vronsky and her shunning of and subsequently being shunned from societal conventions is certainly a plot driver, but its her lingering presence that gives her staying power as a. The book opens with anna arriving on a scene of family. They both were twice awarded the penbookofthemonth club translation prize for dostoevskys the brothers karamazov and tolstoys anna karenina. Petersburg government official karenin, arrives at the oblonskys to mediate. Richard pevear, along with his wife larissa volokhonsky, has translated works by tolstoy, dostoevsky, chekhov, gogol, bulgakov and pasternak. To ask other readers questions about anna karenina, 2 of 2, please sign up. Because, hate to break it to you, but anna karenina, is just not a good book. Some people say anna karenina is the single greatest novel ever written, which makes about as much sense to me as trying to determine the worlds greatest color. Anna karenina, 1985 another movie version of anna karenina, this one starring jacqueline bisset as anna and christopher reeve as vronsky. I read a few chapters a day over a long period of time. Eventually, i want to conclude that anna karenina is not a book but a part of life that you dont want to live, a part of life you want to live, a lovely marital bliss, a so not lovely extra marital burden, a life driven full of passion, a life driven without passion, a life lacking responsibilities.
Sep 24, 2009 anna karenina is, as one critic put it, a crosssection of russian life. Acclaimed by many as the worlds greatest novel, anna karenina pr. Tolstoy s broad canvas is big enough to include insight into happy marriages, adultery, sexuality, country life, politics, masculinity and femininity, individuality, conformity, altruism, love, death, longing and success. It shows the evolution of the title character anna through the story, and her relationship with vronski. Buy anna karenina penguin classics book online at best prices in india on. Tolstoy considered this book to be his first real attempt at a novel form, and it addresses the very nature of society at all levels, of destiny, death, human relationships and the. Anna arrives at the train station with an elderly woman named countess vronsky, whose son, alexis or alexei vronsky is immediately smitten with anna. A crisis develops in the oblonsky household when dolly finds out about her husbands affair. In order for a book to be good, said leo tolstoy to his wife sonya on. Nov 23, 2012 when i first started reading anna karenina, ten years agoim obsessed with the book, and have read it seven times since theni, too, thought of it as a love story. Anna karenina is a novel by the russian writer leo tolstoy, published in serial installments from 1873 to 1877 in the periodical the russian messenger. Leo tolstoy, or count lyev nikolayevich tolstoy september 9, 1828 november 20, 1910, was a russian author, essayist, and philosopher whose contributions include two of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time, war and peace, and anna karenina. I just finished reading anna karenina, and im just incredibly baffled. Anna karenina is, as one critic put it, a crosssection of russian life.
My friend loved the fact i purchased her a russian edition, as when she left russian she had to leave all her books behind, so she was so touched that i had given. Many writers consider anna karenina the greatest work of literature ever, and tolstoy himself called it his first true novel. Since the topics are about the book, i think im eligible to answer. Anna karenina by leo tolstoy, a free text and ebook for easy online reading, study, and reference. Why leo tolstoys anna karenina transcends the ages film. Over time the feeling developed that the characters, and tolstoy himself in levin, were people i knew people with whom i spent some time each day. Leo tolstoys anna karenina is often acclaimed as the best novel ever. Sep 30, 20 anna karenina, by leo tolstoy the russian messenger, 18731877 the numbers considered by many, including time and the late american author william faulkner, to be the greatest novel ever written. Konstantin levin, an awkward landowner, and alexei vronsky, a dashing military man. Anna karenina, by leo tolstoy the russian messenger, 18731877 the numbers considered by many, including time and the late american author william faulkner, to be the greatest novel ever written. The novel anna karenina starts with one of its most often quoted lines.
Their charm is indelible because tolstoy is so good at describing inner feelings,decors and dialogues. You might be surprised to learn that a good chunk of anna karenina isnt even about anna. One of these partisans is the brilliant critic janet malcolm. Chapters 611 summary stepan arkadyevitch, one who was born in the midst of those who has been and are the powerful ones of this world is president of a government board in moscow, part of a department in the ministry where his brotherinlaw, alexey alexandrovitch karenin, holds one of the most prominent positions.
Tolstoy clashed with editor mikhail katkov over political issues that arose in the final installment tolstoys negative views of russian volunteers going to fight in serbia. The narrative centres on the adulterous affair between anna, wife of aleksey karenin, and count vronsky, a young bachelor. Having finished it and understood the events in it, theres a very strong disconnect in my mind that i just cant reconcile. Anna karenina, 1977 a tv miniseries adaptation of tolstoys famous novel. Stivas his nickname cheating, and now shes threatening to leave him. Stiva oblonskys sister, anna karenina, wife of alexis or alexei karenin, is taking a train from petersburg to act as a marriage counselor. Anna karenina is one of the most loved and memorable heroines of literature. Why leo tolstoys anna karenina transcends the ages film the. For my part,two of my favorite scenes are kittys ball and levins proposal. Apr 06, 2014 anna karenina was written in eight installments,so each part in the book has its own climax and memorable scenes.
Librivox recording of anna karenina book 1, by leo tolstoy. Apr 23, 2016 anna karenina is set in nineteenthcentury russia, exploring relationships, death and controversy between tradition and freethinking. More than any other book, it persuades me that there is such a thing as human nature. Anna karenina, book 1 leo tolstoy 1828 1910, translated by constance garnett 1861 1946 anna karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious anna and the dashing officer, count vronsky. She explains that english and american readers have until recent yearslargely depended on two translations, one by the englishwoman constance garnett and. Read by kirsten ferreri anna karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious anna and the dashing officer, count vronsky. It doesnt really feel like a proper hardback, and is a bit difficult to keep open properly due to the type of binding which is more like a.
But i did know this was the best book i had ever read, and anna karenina the most magnificent of heroines. Anna karenina, 1948 stars vivien leigh in the title role. I read anna karenina all the way through so you dont have to. This book is about life, about living, about understanding. A complex novel in eight parts, with more than a dozen major characters, it is spread over more than 800 pages, typically contained in two volumes. In book 7, levin, in town for kittys confinement, finds himself drawn to the corruptive influence of moscow society. When i first started reading anna karenina, ten years agoim obsessed with the book, and have read it seven times since theni, too, thought of it as a love story. Its the best romantic novel ive ever read and its a masterpiece before this.