Book Review - Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy, the prolific Russian writer, is best known for his epic “War and Peace” and the novel “Anna Karenina.” I attempted to tackle the first when I was in high school, in Russian no less, and admit that I never read the entire tome. It was too daunting for my brain.

Some twenty-five years later, I bought the Penguin classic “Anna Karenina” translated from Russian by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. The book is a thick one, over 800 pages in length. I was determined and dove into the introduction, with a list of principal characters to aid me on my literary voyage.

Set in nineteenth-century Russia, the classic storyline is one that is centuries old. It revolves around Anna Karenina, a beautiful, wealthy and married woman whose marriage is filled with ennui; it does not complete her. Although Anna has a son whom she adores with her husband, she is drifting through life, clearly dissatisfied despite the material blessings that surround her. Simply stated, all the stuff is just not enough anymore.

I’m certain that there are some of us, including myself in a former relationship, that can relate to this dreary existence.

Anna goes through the daily motions, but her passionate soul craves more, perhaps -- gasp -- even to find something or someone that will ignite the passions and feelings buried and lying dormant in her heart.

And then, she meets him, the one that will change the course of her life.

Anna encounters him at a ball and his name is Count Vronsky. He’s a younger man, a theme that the French writer Gustave Flaubert also wrote about in “Sentimental Education.” Destiny is calling and Anna succumbs as she’s drawn into the web of a consuming affair that was immoral, shocking and scandalous, especially in nineteenth century Russia.

The saga continues as Anna makes her decision to leave her son Sergei behind. She and Count Vronsky travel through Russia and Europe but the magic begins to diffuse as society is not forgiving nor accepting of their affair. There is a host of other characters that interplay with Anna and Count Vronsky in their adventure.

What is happiness? Both Anna and Vronsky give this much thought.
Despite all the drama, does Anna Karenina have a happy ending? Read the book to find out!

Interestingly enough, as I write this, there is a new movie version of Anna Karenina in the works by Joe Wright. I can’t wait to see it.

Anna Karenina is a fabulous read, and I recommend it highly even though it’s set in nineteenth century Russia. The plot is one that can still be related to and I’d agree that this is one of the greatest books ever written. Pevear and Volokhonsky did an excellent job with the translation.

The book was worth the money I spent on it.



Buy "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy on Amazon.com