Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy's celebrated work, considered one of the finest gems of Russian belles lettres, tells the stories of several families from high St. Petersburg and Moscow society and depicts life in the author's time in all its diversity. The main character, Anna Arkadyevna Karenina, the wife of an important St. Petersburg official, becomes infatuated with the brilliant guards officer Count Vronsky. This criminal affair leads to a break with her husband, separation from her son, and a complete breakdown in society, leading to a tragic outcome. The story of the landowner Konstantin Levin, a man of profound thought, who finds happiness in honest work, family life, and faith in God, unfolds in parallel. The author, with extraordinary skill, depicts the inner world of her characters, their passions, doubts, and moral quests. The novel addresses crucial contemporary issues: the position of women in society, relations between social classes, economic organization, raising children, and the religious principles of life. Scenes from social life alternate with descriptions of landowner life, philosophical reflections with vivid scenes from everyday life. This edition reproduces the complete text of the novel and is embellished with artistic illustrations from the best pre-revolutionary editions.