Now the subject of a major new film adaptation from director Joe Wright ("Atonement", "Pride and Prejudice"), Leo Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina" is translated by award-winning duo Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky in "Penguin Classics". Starring Keira Knightley ("A Dangerous Method") as Anna Karenina, Jude Law ("Sherlock Holmes") as her husband Alexei, Aaron Johnson ("Nowhere Boy") as Count Vronsky, and also starring Matthew McFadyen, Andrea Riseborough and Kelly Macdonald, this dazzling production of "Anna Karenina" is adapted for the screen by legendary playwright Tom Stoppard. Anna Karenina seems to have everything - beauty, wealth, popularity and an adored son. But she feels that her life is empty until the moment she encounters the impetuous officer Count Vronsky. Their subsequent affair scandalizes society and family alike, and soon brings jealousy and bitterness in its wake. Contrasting with this tale of love and self-destruction is the vividly observed story of Konstantin Levin, a man striving to find contentment and meaning to his life - and also a self-portrait of Tolstoy himself. Acclaimed as the definitive English version of Tolstoy's masterpiece, this edition contains an introduction by Richard Pevear and a preface by John Bayley. Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) spent his youth in wasteful idleness until 1851, when he travelled to the Caucasus and joined the army, fighting in the Crimean war. After marrying in 1862, Tolstoy settled down, managing his estates and writing two of his best-known novels, "War and Peace" (1869) and "Anna Karenina" (1878). "A Confession" (1879-82) marked a spiritual crisis in his life, and in 1901 he was excommunicated by the Russian Holy Synod. "William Faulkner, it's said, was once asked to name the three best novels ever. He replied: "Anna Karenina, Anna Karenina, Anna Karenina". If you don't recall why, rush to buy a fine new translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky". (Boyd Tonkin, "Independent").
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Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), the Russian prose writer, is chiefly remembered for his novels, War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky have translated Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita for Penguin and have produced acclaimed translations of Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky and Gogol. Their translation of The Brothers Karamazov won the 1991 PEN Book of the Month Club Translation Prize. John Bayley has published many books, including studies of Tolstoy and Pushkin.
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Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) wrote two of the great novels of the nineteenth century, War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
111 of 120 people found the following review helpful
By MOVIE MAVEN
Format:Paperback
In my sophomore year of college, I was assigned ANNA KARENINA to be read in one week. ONE WEEK! Somehow I did it and it changed my life. I came back to the Tolstoy novel in the summer between my sophomore and junior years and then again in grad school. I just finished reading it for the fourth time.
Everything you've heard and read about ANNA KARENINA is true. It is one of the finest, subtlest, most exciting, most romantic, truest, most daring, charming, witty and altogether moving experiences anyone can have. And you don't have to slog through pages and chapters to find the truth and beauty. It's right there from the first, famous sentence: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
This new translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky is wonderful and deserves your attention even if you already have a favorite version of the book. Pevear and Volokhonsky are considered "the premiere translators of Russian literature into English of our day." Working, as I do, in the Theatre, I hope they take on some of Turgenev's plays.
Anyone who believes in the power of Art, especially Literature, must buy and read this book. I promise it can change your life. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
47 of 51 people found the following review helpful
By Luke
Format:Paperback
Tolstoy, the most straightforward of Russian prose writers, have a deceptive style. Nabokov calls him the greatest of Russian writers, but concedes that his prose may be a little awkward at times, deliberately, as was his wont. Tolstoy's somewhat dogged muscular style can be lost in many translators, and from what one can read from the lastest Pevear and Volokhonsky, so much is lost that one wonders why the duo have made the translation at all. Moscow Times calls P and V's Dostoevsky's "better than their Tolstoy"; judging by this translation, one would have to agree.
The best that one can say about P and V's translation of Anna Karenina is that it is very smooth. But one wonders whether Tolstoy is that sleek and smooth in his original rendition. P and V's version suffers from odd lexical choices of diction which confuses rather than clarifies Tolstoy's novel. For instance, on the very first page, Oblonsky's body is rendered "full and well-tended". Mystifying... until one turns to the Maudes, who translates it as "plump, well-kept", making Oblonsky at least more than a potted plant. A few sentences later, Oblonsky is descibed as an "amorous man, who did not feel amorous with his wife". The Maudes have it better: "an amorous man...who was not in love with his wife" . In comparison with the Maudes and Garnett, weird lexical choices abound. This is not to say that either of them are perfect, but they do bring a more macro-view to translation than P-and-V, who seems to be translating out of context all the time.
In short, I am disappointed by Pevear and Volokhonsky's translation. I kept feeling while reading their version that Tolstoy is this great writer who is handicapped by his translators. Although none of the substitutes are perfect, I recently skipped from P-and-V over to a revised Garnett, and felt closer to Tolstoy's intents.
The best that one can say about P and V's translation of Anna Karenina is that it is very smooth. But one wonders whether Tolstoy is that sleek and smooth in his original rendition. P and V's version suffers from odd lexical choices of diction which confuses rather than clarifies Tolstoy's novel. For instance, on the very first page, Oblonsky's body is rendered "full and well-tended". Mystifying... until one turns to the Maudes, who translates it as "plump, well-kept", making Oblonsky at least more than a potted plant. A few sentences later, Oblonsky is descibed as an "amorous man, who did not feel amorous with his wife". The Maudes have it better: "an amorous man...who was not in love with his wife" . In comparison with the Maudes and Garnett, weird lexical choices abound. This is not to say that either of them are perfect, but they do bring a more macro-view to translation than P-and-V, who seems to be translating out of context all the time.
In short, I am disappointed by Pevear and Volokhonsky's translation. I kept feeling while reading their version that Tolstoy is this great writer who is handicapped by his translators. Although none of the substitutes are perfect, I recently skipped from P-and-V over to a revised Garnett, and felt closer to Tolstoy's intents.
32 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." That line opens and sets the tone of "Anna Karenina," a tangled and tragic tale of nineteenth century Russia. Tolstoy's story of lovers and family is interlaced with razor-sharp social commentary and odd moments that are almost transcendent. In other words, this is a masterpiece.
When Stepan Oblonsky has an affair with the governess, his wife says that she's leaving him, and now the family is about to disintegrate. Stepan's sister Anna arrives to smooth over their marital problems, and consoles his wife Dolly until she agrees to stay. But on the train there, she met the outspoken Countess Vronsky, and the countess's dashing son, who is semi-engaged to Dolly's sister Kitty.
Anna and Vronsky start to fall in love -- despite the fact that Anna has been married for ten years, to a wealthy husband she doesn't care about, and has a young son. Even so, Anna rejects her loveless marriage and becomes the center of scandal and public hypocrisy, and even becomes pregnany by Vronsky. As she prepares to jump ship and get a divorce, Anna becomes a victim of her own passions...
That isn't the entire story, actually -- Tolstoy weaves in other plots, about disintegrating families, new marriages, and the melancholy Levin's constant search for God, truth, and goodness. Despite the grim storyline about adultery, and the social commentary, there's an almost transcendent quality to some of Tolstoy's writing. It's the most optimistic tragic book I've ever read.
For some reason, Tolstoy called this his "first novel," even though he had already written some before that. Perhaps it's because "Anna Karenina" tackles so many questions and themes, and does so without ever dropping the ball. No wonder it's so long and imposing -- Tolstoy covered a lot of ground in here.
And while "Anna Karenina" was not the first book he wrote, it is probably the deepest and most moving. Tolstoy steeps the book in social commentary, and his personal philosophies. It's also one of those books that takes a very long time to move itself forward -- Tolstoy's writing is slow and ponderous, with a lot of serious discussion about religion and relationships. But his intense, slightly rough writing is worth it.
In some tragic books, you get the feeling that the author really despises his characters, and doesn't really care what happens to them. Tolstoy never gives you that feeling -- no matter how annoying his characters are, they always have something interesting or endearing. No caricatures at all -- even Anna's irritating, arrogant brother is given some quirks to make him seem real.
Oddly enough, the most moving character here is not Anna, but Konstantin Levin -- the tortured, passionate landowner is so earnest that it's difficult not to care about him. Apparently he was Tolstoy's alter ego, which explains his depth. But Anna and Vronsky are strong leads, a passionate pair who are both selfish and seductive, but never boring.
A beautiful look at living right vs. living wrong, "Anna Karenina" is a truly magnificent book. This book is undoubtedly Tolstoy's opus, and a stunning look at human nature.
When Stepan Oblonsky has an affair with the governess, his wife says that she's leaving him, and now the family is about to disintegrate. Stepan's sister Anna arrives to smooth over their marital problems, and consoles his wife Dolly until she agrees to stay. But on the train there, she met the outspoken Countess Vronsky, and the countess's dashing son, who is semi-engaged to Dolly's sister Kitty.
Anna and Vronsky start to fall in love -- despite the fact that Anna has been married for ten years, to a wealthy husband she doesn't care about, and has a young son. Even so, Anna rejects her loveless marriage and becomes the center of scandal and public hypocrisy, and even becomes pregnany by Vronsky. As she prepares to jump ship and get a divorce, Anna becomes a victim of her own passions...
That isn't the entire story, actually -- Tolstoy weaves in other plots, about disintegrating families, new marriages, and the melancholy Levin's constant search for God, truth, and goodness. Despite the grim storyline about adultery, and the social commentary, there's an almost transcendent quality to some of Tolstoy's writing. It's the most optimistic tragic book I've ever read.
For some reason, Tolstoy called this his "first novel," even though he had already written some before that. Perhaps it's because "Anna Karenina" tackles so many questions and themes, and does so without ever dropping the ball. No wonder it's so long and imposing -- Tolstoy covered a lot of ground in here.
And while "Anna Karenina" was not the first book he wrote, it is probably the deepest and most moving. Tolstoy steeps the book in social commentary, and his personal philosophies. It's also one of those books that takes a very long time to move itself forward -- Tolstoy's writing is slow and ponderous, with a lot of serious discussion about religion and relationships. But his intense, slightly rough writing is worth it.
In some tragic books, you get the feeling that the author really despises his characters, and doesn't really care what happens to them. Tolstoy never gives you that feeling -- no matter how annoying his characters are, they always have something interesting or endearing. No caricatures at all -- even Anna's irritating, arrogant brother is given some quirks to make him seem real.
Oddly enough, the most moving character here is not Anna, but Konstantin Levin -- the tortured, passionate landowner is so earnest that it's difficult not to care about him. Apparently he was Tolstoy's alter ego, which explains his depth. But Anna and Vronsky are strong leads, a passionate pair who are both selfish and seductive, but never boring.
A beautiful look at living right vs. living wrong, "Anna Karenina" is a truly magnificent book. This book is undoubtedly Tolstoy's opus, and a stunning look at human nature.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's a good book
I had to read this for my english class last year and I was not to thrilled about it...but in the end I really liked Tolstoy's way of writing and just learning about the Russian... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Fiorella jones
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dreadful!
I had to read this for my book club. Only 3 out of 9 of us finished it. It was very difficult to get through because it was very boring. It actually put me to sleep at times! Read more
Published 14 months ago by Karyn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth paying for the translation, prologue
I've downloaded both the free version and this version of Anna Karenina and recommend paying the nominal fee for this version. Read more
Published on January 13, 2011 by SeaShell
5.0 out of 5 stars
very good service
i was very happy with the service...and the book came in a very good condition...and in a very short time.
thank you AMAZON
thank you AMAZON
Published on November 5, 2010 by moe
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best novels I've ever read.
One of the best novels I've ever read. There was only one part that dragged a bit for me--the account of the provincial election in part 6. Read more
Published on September 19, 2010 by Jose Cordozo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Anna Karenina is not about Anna Karenina
Even though she is one of the main characters and was given the title by the author, Leo Tolstoy, Anna is not the focus of this novel. Read more
Published on August 21, 2010 by Eric Robert Juggernaut
2.0 out of 5 stars
Book advertised as NEW, sent as a USED copy
I ordered what I believed to be a NEW copy, and received a USED copy. Not in bad condition, but not what I ordered.
Published on April 13, 2010 by dee19
4.0 out of 5 stars
A challenging masterpiece
I liked:
A very rich story about a relatively large number of very well drawn, detailed characters
A good balance between action, characters considering their situations,... Read more
A very rich story about a relatively large number of very well drawn, detailed characters
A good balance between action, characters considering their situations,... Read more
Published on March 25, 2010 by Mr Likeable
5.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended by Russians
I bought this translation of Anna Karenina because it was recommended by a friend born in St. Petersburg who knows the importance of proper word selection. Read more
Published on March 8, 2010 by opera maven
3.0 out of 5 stars
Tolstoy's bitter struggle
In the Introduction to this publication we read ... 'And the main idea, the one he [Tolstoy] struggled with most bitterly and never could resolve, was that Anna's suicide was the... Read more
Published on December 17, 2009 by A. G. Plumb
Citations (learn more)
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