It’s a network of interconnecting plots that connect overlapping families and social circles. But it’s not a straightforward story about her. The novel is named after one of its protagonists.

So put on some Russian Romantic period music, take a sip of vodka, and dive in with this Anna Karenina summary. As American ideological polarization hits an all-time high and conflicting moral messages run rampant, well … let’s just say we moderns can learn a few lessons from Tolstoy’s epic novel. Plus, Anna Karenina’s characters are stuck between opposing ideologies, social norms, and moral codes. From the first line, Tolstoy tells us that his epic novel is about family relationships and all the ways they can go wrong. Like all classics, Anna Karenina tackles timeless themes that are as relevant now as when they were written. Throw in twenty-odd characters with confusing Russian names, and it can be tempting to give up on Tolstoy before you start.īut let me ask you this: have you ever struggled with family problems? Or felt the spark fade in your relationship and wonder if it’s possible to keep the romance alive?

At over 800 pages and packed with interconnected storylines, I won’t lie: Anna Karenina is intimidating.

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