Tolstoy's tumultuous tale of passion and self-discovery marks a turning point in the author's career. His compelling, emotional saga recounts the effects of nonconformist behavior — a society woman's adulterous affair and a landowner's unconventional quest for a meaningful existence — against a backdrop of late 19th-century Russia.
Anna Karenina (Oxford World's Classics)
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Some people say Anna Karenina is the single greatest novel ever written, which makes about as much sense to me as trying to determine the world's greatest color. But there is no doubt that Anna Karenina, generally considered Tolstoy's best book, is definitely one ripping great read. Anna, miserable in her loveless marriage, does the barely thinkable and succumbs to her desires for the dashing Vronsky. I don't want to give away the ending, but I will say that 19th-century Russia doesn't take well to that sort of thing.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"One of the greatest love stories in world literature."
--Vladimir Nabokov --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
--Vladimir Nabokov --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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More About the Author
Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) wrote two of the great novels of the nineteenth century, War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
148 of 164 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Everyman's Library edition of Anna Karenina is the Maude translation, not the Pevear-Volokhonsky translation praised by so many readers. That translation is available in a Penguin paperback and an out-of-print Viking hardcover edition. Amazon erred in displaying the readers' reviews of the Pevear-Volokhonsky translation under the description of the Everyman's Library book.
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Tolstoy's classic Anna Karenina is a masterpiece. If I were stranded on a desert isle, this is one of the books I would want with me. The story is essentially about a woman who leaves her husband for another man, only to come to a tragic end. Yet the main character is not really Anna, but Kostya Levin, almost the antithesis of Anna. And it is this polarization of characters that is one of the sublime features of this novel.
The characters themselves are especially an element that engrossed me. While there are a dizzying number of personalities, each lives "outside" of the story as well as within it - that is to say, even the most minor of characters seems to have a life of their own, only dropping in the story to play a small part before going on about their business. Each character has depth - they are much more than characitures of "good" and "evi", showing their humanity in their follies and in their decisions - for both good and evil.
Tolstoy has an alternative motive in Anna Karenina, though. The story has a barely perceptable religious tone to it, Tolstoy makes a moral statement about how life should be lived, and what a person's role in life should be in order to be "truly happy". This is the result of an epiphany that Tolstoy experienced while writing the novel - an event that changed his life and eventually estranged him from many of his children.
The only problem I foresee readers having is keeping characters straight (as this translation uses names as well as patronymics - meaning "the son / daughter of" as in Stepan Arkadyvitch: Stepan, son of Arkady). Individuals are referred to by name, patronymic or sometimes nickname (Kostya for Konstantin for example.) My recommendation is to write the characters down in order to keep track of them. With this said, I highly recommend this book - the language is beautiful, the plot is riviting, the story line although a bit moralistic is superb, and the characters are vivid and real.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By "sukiyaki02"
Format:Paperback
'Anna Karenina' is not just a window on a vanished time, place, and society - it is a lucid reflection on our own times and a spellbinding work of art. By taking us so intimately into the passions of Anna and the internal musings of Levin (just two out of a huge, colorful cast), Tolstoy creates an unforgettable exploration of happiness and sadness, conflict and peace, morals and emotions, mind and heart. Read this book for its wonderful story, Tolstoy's magically down-to-earth language, the subtly sketched characters - and the thoughts it is sure to provoke long after the last page.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good Book
Although the book seemed to have a few scenes that carried on a bit too long, it was an overall great book and I found myself getting lost in it many a time. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Hannah Friend
5.0 out of 5 stars
loved it
I order these books for my son that in incarcerated > He loves tor read and he really loved this book.
Published 16 days ago by Sheila Tutor
3.0 out of 5 stars
This book DOES NOT include the screenplay by Tom Stoppard.
The Amazon Book Description and the Vintage Books website both state: "This edition also includes the screenplay by Tom Stoppard." This is NOT true. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jacques Monier
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as I thought it would be
After reading the rave reviews of this work, I was disappointed with the content. The book, unlike many classics, is easy to read and understand, but the story line and especially... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Joseph Allen, Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Anna!
What a wonderful author, gives a strong feeling of the time. Must admit that having recently seen the film, it is much easier to work through the book - and of course compare how... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Maverickshaven
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great gift
This was a gift for someone who collects classic literature. It was well recevied. The price was very affordable too.
Published 2 months ago by Diane Cofer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Faithful
I found this edition to be of very high quality, I'm assuming a faithful reproduction of the Maude translation. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Robert M. Koretsky
4.0 out of 5 stars
Long but very good
If you have the time, there was an illness in the family and I needed to relax from daily chores this is an excellent read. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Linda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
Great book and great story! It is a long book but it is worth it! I can't stop reading it
Published 2 months ago by Magda
4.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing descriptive narrative
When the author describes something, it is just the absolute reality of the old saying that books can transport you into worlds. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Fernando Noreńa
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