Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina

By Leo Tolstoy

  • Release Date: 1877-12-30
  • Genre: Classics
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 3,830 Ratings

Description

An Apple Books Classic edition.

"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Thus begins what many consider the world’s greatest novel. Leo Tolstoy originally published this sweeping saga in serial form beginning in 1875, portraying a vast swath of Russian life, from the fields worked by starving peasant farmers to the sitting rooms (and bedrooms) of privileged aristocrats.

Despite its epic nature, Anna Karenina is an intricate, intimate study of one woman’s downward spiral into tragedy. As Anna’s husband becomes increasingly absorbed in philosophical and political introspection, Tolstoy’s heroine grows weary of her life as a mother and wealthy man’s wife. Increasingly unsettled by the stark class differences she observes, Anna finds passion again in a forbidden affair with Count Vronsky. But can she overcome her obsessive concern with societal norms to find a measure of happiness?

Passion. Betrayal. Love. Revenge. Tolstoy’s classic has it all.

Reviews

  • It was ok

    3
    By Lousie Peach
    It was ok.? I didn’t finish it because I was so bored. Will come back to it later when I am ready to read it.
  • Not Interested

    2
    By Avidly Listenering
    Leo Tolstoy writes smoothly and beautifully, and I enjoyed War and Peace. However, I have little to no interest in reading about a dirt bag making up with his wife, and about his sister, who is also a dirt bag, falling in love with another dirt bag! There is nothing in that which says “classic literature” to me. The only redeeming factor in the story and plot is the story of Levin and Kitty, who are the opposite of all the other main characters. Unfortunately I am not willing to wade wallow in the muck of the other characters to get to their story. I have no such patience or interest.
  • Great book… less great publishing… maybe i’m missing something…

    4
    By Dotoototorororototo
    I understand that apple books classics are meant to be extremely paired down, and that this is their own, original publication. That being said, I can find no info on what edition this is and specifically what translation, which I’d like to know. This seems to be an oversight on the part of apple publishing, not only because it impedes the precision of my goodreads profile and because the translation of a work of literature absolutely changes it in terms of both content and form, but because the translator (duh!) deserves credit for their work… Maybe it’s really obviously visible and I just missed it? Hopefully apple will rectify this.
  • Anna Karenina is so much more than I’d ever realized

    1
    By Jane Echolia
    Wow. Spectacular.
  • Ridiculous

    3
    By jkolmen50266
    Read the first 10 chapters, got lost and confused with the plot and setting and characters. Gave up.
  • Poor

    2
    By Amanda J. Green
    I was expecting greatness and this really disappointed me. I usually finish books, but this put me off reading completely. I really wanted to like this, but I couldn't.
  • Anna karanina

    5
    By Bibi Cakes1
    Long but good
  • Amazing

    5
    By vilpq
    It was amazing how this pages took me to other time and places.
  • Anna Karenina

    5
    By jejejwkejrbvyvehw
    An epic love story of love and loss. Teaches us about true love, and the allusion of love. In ways a tragedy, but left us with the opportunity for hope of a better life.
  • So RELEVANT

    5
    By RoseBisou5
    This is now one of my favorite books of all time. It’s so well written. Every character is so thoroughly developed in a way I’ve never come across. You’re privy to their inmost thoughts and feelings with such frankness and honesty that you understand and empathize with them on a deeper level… it’s like a mirror - you can’t help but recognize parts of yourself in them all at various times in your life. You’ve had those same experiences from various perspectives… you’ve been in all their shoes in one way or another and if you’d ever been honest with yourself you’d have to admit you felt just the same way, thought just the same things, and acted just like that - flattering or not. You’ll see parts of every relationship you’ve ever had in the story of each couple. Beyond that there’s much of the social and political climate of the era in Russia that strikes a chord and accurately reflects the landscape of America today. It feels so… current.