Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1877)

Name: Anna Karenina
Author: Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina is a novel by Leo Tolstoy, first published in serial installments from 1873 to 1877 in the periodical The Russian Messenger. It is one of the most acclaimed works of fiction ever written, and is considered a pinnacle of realist fiction. The novel tells the story of Anna Karenina, a married aristocrat and socialite, and her affair with the affluent Count Vronsky. The story starts when she arrives in the midst of a family broken up by her brother's unbridled womanizing—something that prefigures her own later situation. Although Vronsky and Anna go to great lengths to keep their affair secret, it soon becomes the talk of the town. The novel explores the themes of betrayal, faith, family, marriage, society, and passion. The novel is divided into eight parts, with each part divided into several chapters. The novel is set in Imperial Russia and follows the lives of the aristocratic Karenina family and their friends and relations. The novel focuses on the consequences of Anna's affair with Vronsky on her marriage, social standing, and psychological state, and contrasts this with the happiness of Levin, who seeks spiritual fulfillment through his love for Kitty.

By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1877 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Drama · 60 chapters · 353,069 words

First lines

Almost two months had passed. The hot summer was half over, but Sergey Ivanovitch was only just preparing to leave Moscow.

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Anna Karenina is listed on Textopian as a novel by Leo Tolstoy, dated 1877 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Date: 1877 CE
Language: English
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction
Length: 353,069 words
Structure: 239 chapters, 6,903 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Genres

Realistic Fiction — Anna Karenina is a realistic novel that follows the lives of multiple characters in 19th century Russia, exploring themes of morality, love, and family.
Romance — The novel follows the story of Anna Karenina and her affair with Count Vronsky, and explores the consequences of their forbidden love.
Drama — The novel is full of dramatic moments, such as Anna's suicide attempt and the death of Levin's brother Nikolai.
Historical Fiction — Anna Karenina is set in 19th century Russia and includes many historical references to the period.