Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy. Tolstoy himself called Anna Karenina his first true novel, and ever since being first published in 1878, the book has been widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever written. The novel has eight parts, with more than a dozen major characters. It deals with themes of betrayal, faith, family, marriage, Imperial Russian society, desire, and rural vs. city life.
The novel is a story about the life of Anna Karenina. She appears to have the perfect happy family with her husband, a wealthy bureaucrat, and their son, until she begins what becomes a very public affair with dashing cavalry officer Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky. The story centers on this extramarital affair between them, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg and forces the young lovers to flee to Italy in search of happiness, but after they return to Russia, their lives further unravel. Their relationship quickly dissolves, along with her place in society. Disgraced, shamed, and heartbroken, Anna meets her death on the Russian railroad.
The story in Anna Karenina takes place in the context of a rapidly changing society after Emperor Alexander II of Russia initiated liberal reforms. There are many adaptations of Anna Karenina, including theatre, opera, film, television, ballet, figure skating, and radio drama.
