NewAnna Karenina
Passion and Fate Amid Russian Aristocracy
by Leo TolstoyNovelRealist Fiction
Анна Каренина
Originally in Russian1878
239 chapters1,398 pages25h read
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About This Book
Enter the glittering salons and windswept country estates of 19th-century Russia, where love, ambition, and honor collide. Anna Karenina is a sweeping tale of two intertwining lives: Anna, whose forbidden romance with the dashing Count Vronsky threatens to upend her world, and Levin, a soulful landowner searching for purpose in family, faith, and the rhythms of rural life. Tolstoy masterfully weaves together scandal, heartbreak, and philosophical inquiry, painting a vivid portrait of high society and human longing. With unforgettable characters and sumptuous detail, this novel explores the price of desire and the search for happiness in an era of strict social codes.
Characters
View all 307 charactersAbout the Author
Leo Tolstoy
1828–1910
Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) was born into an aristocratic Russian family at Yasnaya Polyana, his family’s estate south of Moscow. Orphaned at a young age, Tolstoy was educated by tutors and briefly attended Kazan University before leaving to manage his estate and pursue a military career. His experiences as a soldier in the Caucasus and during the Crimean War profoundly influenced his early writings. Over time, Tolstoy became deeply interested in questions of morality, religion, and social reform, leading to a period of spiritual crisis and the development of his own philosophy. He spent much of his later life as a moral thinker, farmer, and advocate for pacifism and simple living, drawing both admirers and controversy in Russian society.
Places and Terms in this Book
Moscow— The capital city of Russia and a central location in the novel.
Petersburg— Short for Saint Petersburg, the imperial capital and another major Russian city.
Princess Shtcherbatskaya— Kitty and Dolly's mother, a society woman primarily concerned with her daughters' marriage prospects.
Russia— The country in which the novel is set, specifically referencing Russian society and customs.
drawing room— A formal sitting room in a large house, commonly used in Russian aristocratic homes for receiving guests.
Tsar— The title for the Russian emperor.
Vocabulary
roubles— Russian currency used in the 19th century.
sledge— A horse-drawn vehicle for travel over snow or ice, common in 19th-century Russia.
coachman— A servant who drives a horse-drawn carriage.
bailiff— An estate manager responsible for overseeing agricultural and financial operations on a Russian country estate.
footman— A liveried servant who attends to passengers in a carriage or performs household duties.
telegram— A written message sent by telegraph, a rapid means of communication in the 19th century.
