Books from Russia — The Book Roads

Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina explores love, marriage, family, and social expectations in nineteenth-century Russian society. Anna, an aristocratic woman trapped in an unhappy marriage, falls passionately in love with Count Vronsky, a military officer. Their relationship challenges the conventions of a society that grants men and women very different freedoms, exposing Anna to scandal and increasing isolation. Alongside her story, the novel follows Konstantin Levin, a landowner searching for meaning through work, family life, and spiritual reflection. As their lives unfold, Tolstoy examines the contradictions between personal happiness and social duty, revealing the consequences of hypocrisy and rigid moral standards. Through its complex characters and detailed portrayal of Russian life, the novel considers whether genuine fulfilment can be achieved within the expectations imposed by society.

1878