Anna Karenina was written by Leo Tolstoy. It was published, (in Russian), in 1877.
My Mother belonged to a book-of the-month club, and I inherited her book. It was translated into English by Nina Berberrova and Lenorard Kent, and published by Random House. I have no idea what she paid for it.
My Review
Mona Simson writes the introduction.
Anna Karenina lives in St. Petersburg, Russia, and is married, to a rich man, (Stepan Arkadevetch). It was an arranged marriage, and he is 20 years older than her.
He never shows how much he loves her, and likes to show her off, (like she’s a trophy wife).
She meets Count Vronsky, who is Stehpans friend. He is instantly attracted to her.
The rest of this book is about their love affair, and her other lovers. How does it end? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Russian Names
Each person had a first name, and their last name means, ’’son of...’’. For example Kitty is called Ekaterina Alexandrovan, (daughter of Alexander). When Anna becomes Karenin’s wife, she becomes Anna Karenian, (wife of Karenin).
What I Thought
I’ve read this book before, and I thought I would read it again, because it takes a long time to read, (there are 8 chapters, and many parts in each).
I can just imagine how socked Russian aristocracy was shocked by this book, because her affairs are described with a lot of detail.
I loved the part, where there was a dinner party at Stiva’s, and the discussion was on womens rights. Princess Shcherbatskaya is very upset whey Kitty wants to choose her own husband.
In some places you might get bored, when Tolstoy, described in detail, the farmers attitude on mowing, wooden and iron plows, and why agriculture reforms aren’t working in Russia. I found it interesting, because, some of my family came from White Russia, and they possibly worked as farmers.
Tolsoy, developed his plot well, and each character, (there are at least 12 main characters), was carefully crafted. I found I could hate some, and love others.
I loved the part of the book that took part on a train, and Frou Frou, Vronsky’s racehorse.
Although this is a novel you will find a lot of history in this book.
This classic book, might just be the greatest love story ever told. It’s the type of book that you will want to keep, and read it every few years.
Other Information</b.
There are over 800 pages in this book.
IBSN # 067978330
Other Books By Count Leo Tolstoy: Childhood, Boyhood & Youth, The Sebastopol Sketches, The Cossacks, War and Peace, (my second favorite book), Confession, Gospels in Brief, The Death of Ivan, The Kreutzer Sonata and Hadji Murad.
Thank you for reading my review.
©LL2005