Introduction
Anna Karenina is a book of Leo Tolstoy and published on 1878. Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer who is considered one of the greatest writers of all time. Tolstoy is best known for novels of war and peace and Anna Karenina, often cited as a realistic novel. The genre of this book, Fiction, Literary realism. Anna Karenina is the greatest work of literature. A complex novel in eight parts with over a dozen major characters. It is a long novel, over 700 pages. We have brought you a review and summary of ‘Anna Karenina’. So let’s turn on again. (Anna Karenina Summary)
Summary
Before we sum up the book, lets get to know the characters of the book.
- Anna Karenina: Stepan Oblonsky’s (Stiva) sister, Alexei Karenin’s wife and Vronsky’s lover.
- Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin: Anna’s husband and senior statesman.
- Vronsky: Anna’s lover, cavalry officer.
- Prince Stepan Arkadyevich Oblonsky (Stiva): Anna’s brother and civil servant.
- Princess Darya (Dolly): Stiva’s wife.
- Levin: Kitty’s suitor, Stiva’s old friend.
- Princess Ekaterina (Kitty): Dolly’s younger sister and later Levin’s wife.
- Nikolai: Levin’s elder brother, impoverished alcoholic.
- Vronskaya: Vronsky’s mother.
- Betsy: Vronsky’s cousin.
- Lidia: leader of a high society circle that includes Karenin.
- Sergei Karenin: Anna and Karenin’s son
- Annie: Anna and Vronsky’s daughter.
Part 1
The story begins with a scene that shows Stiva cheating on Dolly. Stiva’s sister, Anna Karenina, arrives to reunite the two and prevent Dolly from getting divorced. On the other side, Levin, Stiva’s friend, arrives in Moscow to propose Kitty. But she refuses him, as she falls in love with Count Vronsky, an officer who has no intention of marrying Kitty.
While on Tran’s journey, Vronsky’s mother meets Anna, she tells him about her son who comes to pick her up. Vronsky sees Anna for the first time, a railway worker accidentally falls in front of a train and is killed. Vroneski meets Anna at the same time, and only then gives his heart. He and Anna are so attached to each other at the Grand Ball that Kitty’s hopes for Vronsky are shattered. Anna, after Vronsky, returns to her husband and son in St. Petersburg, and on the other side, the dejected Levine returns to his country estate.
Part 2
Kitty becomes ill after an abusive rejection by Kronki. Dolly talks to Kitty and realizes that she is suffering because of Vronsky and Levine, who she cares about Meanwhile, Steva visits Levin on his country property while selling a nearby plot.
In St. Petersburg, Anna starts spending more time with Betsy, cousin of Vronsky. Meanwhile, Karenin reminded his wife of his inability to pay too much attention to Vronsky, who is becoming the subject of Gossip.
Vronsky participates in a horse ride, during which he picks up his horse very hard and due to his irresponsibility he falls and the horse’s back and breaks. Anna is unable to hide her herself during the accident. Karen is also present on the run and comments to Anna that her behavior is inappropriate.
Ana told Vronsky that she was pregnant and confessed to her affair with her husband.
Part 3
Levine goes to his brother and finds Nikolai badly ill with tuberculosis, realizing that he is working to avoid the problem of death. He also realizes that he will love Kitty forever.
Part 4
Karenin, who tried to maintain domestic peace, eventually agrees to divorce. Karenin forces Anna to hand over some of Vronsky’s love letters, which is insufficient as evidence for the lawyer. On the other hand, Kitty and Levine are engaged to get married. Ana goes sick while giving birth to her daughter and when she recovers, she and Vronsky flee to Europe.
Part 5
Levine and Kitty marry and begin their new life on the property of their country. Levine realizes that his brother is in a very bad condition and he takes care of him. On the other hand, Kitty realizes that she is pregnant.
Anna and Vronsky return to Petersburg. Anna begins to get worried that Vronsky no longer loves her. Meanwhile, Karen is rested by Countess Lydia. She advises him to keep Sergei away from Anna and tells her that her mother is dead.
Part 6
When Dolly goes to meet Ana, Ana tells Dolly that she must rely on her beauty and her love to maintain her interest. Wronski especially feels burdened by Anna’s demands for love when she calls him home from a recent political conference.
After Vronsky leaves for several days of provincial elections, Anna is convinced that he must marry her to prevent her from leaving.
Part 7
Anna becomes constantly jealous and irrational towards Wronski. Whom he suspects of having a love affair with other women. Kitty on the other hand gives birth to a son. Anna sees the irreversible decline of her love affair, lacks much will to live and commits suicide by throwing herself under a passing train.
Part 8
Levine came to the conclusion that despite his newly accepted beliefs, he was human and would continue to make mistakes. His life can now be meaningful and true to righteousness.
And this is how the book ends.
Some quotes we all need to know
“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” (Anna Karenina Summary)
Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina
“Be bad, but at least don’t be a liar, a deceiver!”
Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina
“If goodness has causes, it is not goodness; if it has effects, a reward, it is not goodness either. So goodness is outside the chain of cause and effect
Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina
“What a strange illusion it is to suppose that beauty is goodness.”
Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina
Insight/review
It was amazing to see how Tolstoy could get into each character’s shoes to pen the story. The reader is provided with unfiltered ideas from each character’s point of view and therefore has the flexibility to read and formulate their own ideas.
The story is like an everyday event that can happen around you, but when told by Tolstoy, the same everyday story becomes a perfect story. A true masterpiece
The language style of the book was simple. Talking about character development. All characters in this book who appeared to play their own roles correctly. Enjoyed reading it.
Rating
5/5
Conclusion
Anna Karinana is undoubtedly a masterpiece of classical literature. This book is one of the greatest in the history of romantic novels that no one can ever ignore.
Anna Karenina Summary
Read all Quotes of ‘Anna Karenina’, Click Here
About the Author
Leo Tolstoy was a Russian writer who is considered one of the greatest writers of all time. Tolstoy is best known for novels of war and peace and Anna Karenina, often cited as a realistic novel.
