Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

Advantages: Introduction to a Masterful Writer!
Disadvantages: A Long Review!

Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy Review Introduction Leo Tolstoy is a familiar name to me, as I'm sure it is to most people. I own two or three of his books and have seen his name on online libraries where many of his works are readily available to peruse at no cost. That being so, and given I'm an avid reader, you'd think I'd have read at least one of his works before now but for some reason or another, most probably because of the ...
...book I am here reviewing, Anna Karenina. The book was some four years in the making, Tolstoy beginning it in 1873 and concluding it in 1877 and is thought to reflect some of the character of Tolstoy in his relationship with his wife, Sophia Behr, whom he married in 1862. Initially it was being presented serially in a Russian periodical - Russian Messenger - but, following an alleged dispute between Tolstoy and the periodicals editor, this broke down ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful writing, enthralling characters, excellent story
Disadvantages: Name confusion!

...I’m delighted to say that Anna Karenina is one of them. Admittedly, I had high expectations – Anna Karenina has often been cited as the best novel ever written – and I’m thrilled that it not only met my expectations, but surpassed them. The ‘hallelujah’ moment came when I was reading a page that described a dog flushing out snipe, from the dog’s point of view, and found myself utterly enthralled with the poetry of it – despite my having no interest ...
...true, defines the theme of Anna Karenina as succinctly as anyone can. Then we are propelled into the world of the Oblonskys, where Dolly has just discovered that her husband, Stepan Arkadyich was having an affair with the former French governess. Dolly, an otherwise-docile woman whose main purpose in life seems to be giving birth to as many children as she can, shows her true strength as she copes with the aftermath of this discovery. Dolly’s role ... Read review

Advantages: A masterpiece
Disadvantages: A very long masterpiece

Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is an incredibly popular story. Well known and loved by many it has survived the passage of time and is as beguiling and popular now as it has ever been. I say story rather than novel as this has been the subject of many film and TV adaptations, from Greta Garbo in 1935 to Sophie Marceau in 1997 the IMDb website lists no less than 24 different adaptations, from all over the world. How popular the novel itself is is questionable, ...
...compelling. While Anna has become one of the most famous literary heroines, for much of this book her story is in the shadow of Levin's. In terms of pages and attention we spend far more time with Levin and because he is such an internal character and on such a journey of personal growth we are more emotionally invested in him rather than Anna. Through Levin Tolstoy tackles many of the key social issues facing imperial nineteenth century Russia. ... Read review

Advantages: fascinating
Disadvantages: too long

...after its principle heroine – Anna Karenin – it chronicles the lives of many characters whose stories are all interwoven with Anna’s. The book gives a fascinating insite into the lives of the wealthy in Russia at the end of the 19th Century. They all idle away their time gossiping about each other and making every effort not to break the vast social constraints of the era. There is a huge gulf between what is acceptable behaviour ...
...are inter-twined. Synopsis: = Anna is in a passionless marriage and has a son that she loves greatly. She falls for a handsome count and elopes within – a terrible social faux-pas. They are shunned by society although the count retains his male friends. His mother despairs of the match especially when a daughter is born to the couple out of wedlock. The social exclusion Anna faces causes her much misery, especially as she doesn’t ... Read review

Advantages: great writing
Disadvantages: long

In my opinion Anna Karenina is Tolstoy’s greatest novel. Although it is shorter than War and Peace, it still weighs in at a hefty 800+ pages. Don’t, what ever you do, let the size put you off. It is well worth the effort. Put simply this is the sort of book that will change your life. Anna Karenina is the story of the doomed love of the eponymous heroine, who leaves a stultifying and loveless marriage when she falls helplessly in love with the dashing ...
...social ruin and ultimately, fatal consequences. The main story is complimented by a number of subplots including that of Levin, a character who Tolstoy based on himself and who shares many of his opinions. The characterisations are dazzling and the writing superb. Although it is long, the plot moves at a nice pace. The sense of impending doom is palpable and at times becomes almost unbearable.This is one of the greatest books ever written. ... Read review