The Tolstoy Library

In which Levin visits Anna Arkadyevna and finds himself warmly welcomed into her lively and intelligent company, where art, education, and personal convictions are discussed with candour and spirited insight. Through their conversation, he perceives the complexity of her character—at once graceful, witty, and burdened with a poignant sincerity that evokes both admiration and compassion.

In which Levin accompanies Stepan Arkadyevitch to visit Anna, a woman of remarkable composure and quietly complex circumstance, whose life is marked by a dignified struggle between society’s strictures and her own inner resources. They enter her modest study, where Levin is struck by a portrait that captures her enchanting presence, and then meets in person a woman whose living beauty and subtle c...

In which Levin is introduced to the varied company and leisurely amusements of a gentleman’s club, where the humour and camaraderie hint at deeper truths beneath the veneer of idle pursuits. His chance encounter with Stepan Arkadyevitch and Vronsky paves the way for social rapprochement, marked by a shared game and an invitation to an evening visit.

In which Levin returns to a familiar Moscow club, where the comfortable routine and convivial company soothe him after a period of intellectual strain. Surrounded by acquaintances and the hum of spirited conversation, he partakes in light-hearted tales, good cheer, and camaraderie that momentarily lift the weight of the world.

In which Levin navigates a social gathering at Countess Bola’s house with a mixture of awkwardness and detachment, engaging in trivial conversation that leaves him feeling somewhat out of place. Later, at a public meeting, he mingles with acquaintances and reflects on his own hesitant remarks, before returning home to the comfort of familiar faces.

In which Levin attends a concert featuring a fantasia inspired by King Lear and struggles to comprehend the new, disjointed style of music, feeling both bewildered and wearied by the experience. Amidst the applause and discourse, he debates with a musical connoisseur on the nature of art and music, while also engaging with acquaintances on various worldly matters.

In which the lively discourse between friends unfolds amidst the gentle hum of domestic life, touching upon the trials and triumphs of educating one’s children with a blend of love, modesty, and sincere concern for character formation. The convivial atmosphere is enlivened by the arrival of a graceful lady and the weaving together of social plans, illustrating the delicate balance of personal duty...

In which Levin visits the city to engage with old acquaintances and new intellectual companions, finding himself enthralled yet quietly sceptical of the prevailing theories debated among learned men. His day culminates in a university meeting where conflicting views underscore the vitality and division of thought in matters both scientific and political, leaving Levin thoughtful and resolved to pu...

In which Levin navigates the social obligations and domestic concerns of Moscow life, grappling with the peculiarities of urban expenditure and the subtle strains it places upon his household's finances. Amidst these everyday preoccupations, his thoughts turn to the promise of intellectual engagement and the practical necessities that tether him to family and society.

In which Kitty, awaiting the birth of her child amidst the bustling life of Moscow, reflects on her husband’s uneasy adjustment to city society and finds solace in the calm brought by her loved ones. At a notable visit to Princess Marya Borissovna, she encounters Vronsky with surprising composure, much to her husband Levin’s secret relief and hopeful anticipation.

In which the restless Vronsky finds unexpected delight and triumph in provincial politics, throwing a celebratory dinner that reveals his growing influence and the amiable camaraderie of his new circle. Yet even amid convivial success, a letter from Anna casts a somber veil, reminding him of tender duties and the delicate cares awaiting his return.

In which Anna endures the anxious days of Vronsky’s absence, wrestling with the coldness she perceives in his parting glance and her own restless fears about their precarious bond. Upon his return, their reunion is coloured by tension and unspoken doubts, prompting Anna to confront the necessity of securing a formal union to preserve their troubled togetherness.

In which a restless assembly of noblemen convenes in a confined room, their varied demeanours reflecting a mixture of anticipation, rivalry, and habit-bound duty as the wheels of provincial politics turn with both fervour and disillusionment. Levin, detached from the fervent activity, engages in a thoughtful discourse with a seasoned landowner about the burdens and follies of landed gentry steward...

In which Levin attends a spirited and somewhat perplexing election among the provincial nobility, marked by social manoeuvring, unexpected refusals, and a palpable sense of rivalry. The scene is set with keen observations of character and society, revealing the unsparing realities beneath the ceremonious surface of these public contests.

In which a heated dispute arises among the noble assembly concerning the interpretation of a legal act and the rightful admission of a certain nobleman’s vote, revealing the fierce passions and underlying animosities that govern their proceedings. Amidst the tumult, Levin observes both the bitterness of political contest and the simple dignity of everyday life, finding himself moved by the plight...

In which the great hall fills with an assembly of noblemen, divided by age and allegiance, preparing themselves with whispered stratagems and subtle manoeuvres for the impending election of their provincial marshal. Amidst the murmur of intrigue and shifting alliances, Levin endeavours to grasp the cunning designs employed to unseat the incumbent, only to find himself enmeshed in a spirited disput...

In which Anna and Vronsky reside through the changing seasons in a tranquil country existence marked by careful attention to estate management and intellectual pursuits, yet beneath the surface there lies a tension between love and freedom. Their preparations for the provincial elections bring subtle shifts in their relationship, where silence at parting hints at unspoken resolutions and a fragile...

In which Levin, newly patient and altered by marriage, navigates the vexing labyrinth of local elections and tedious legal business in the Kashinsky province, encountering both obstruction and earnest debate among the nobility. The narrative softly captures the earnest struggles of provincial men seeking progress amid long-established custom and polite factional skirmishes.

In which a gathering at a country estate unfolds with animated discourse on public duty, architecture, and the intrigue of machinery, all amidst a backdrop of refined hospitality and underlying tensions. The evening progresses through formal dinner to a game of lawn tennis, revealing the subtle divides and unspoken sentiments among the guests as they navigate society’s conventions.

In which Anna and Dolly share a late-night confidante exchange, touching on delicate feelings and the whispered complexities of relationships within their intimate circle; Anna reveals her stoic reflections on love, societal position, and the burdens that cloud the prospect of motherhood. The conversation unfolds with a gentle tension, illuminating the quiet rifts and unspoken understandings that...

In which Anna, weighed down by the complexities of her situation, confides in Dolly about the painful impossibilities that surround her yearning for a future with her son and Alexey, and the heavy melancholy that haunts her thoughts. Meanwhile, Darya Alexandrovna departs from the Vronskys’ estate with a mix of relief and renewed affection for her own home, reflecting on the delicate nature of rela...

In which Darya Alexandrovna visits her friend Anna Karenina’s sumptuous country home, observing with a housewife’s eye the fine furnishings and complex household arrangements that mark a life of modern luxury and detailed care. Anna, serene and composed, introduces Dolly to her lively circle of acquaintances and to the charming yet somewhat uneasy atmosphere of her nursery, revealing the subtle in...

In which Anna introduces Darya Alexandrovna to a circle of acquaintances gathered at a country estate, where a pleasant afternoon unfolds amid leisurely garden walks and a visit to a recently constructed hospital. The narrative gently reveals the contrasting feelings of admiration and unease among the guests, as they observe both the improvements to the estate and the earnestness of one of its hos...

In which a sincere and troubled gentleman confides in a close friend of Anna’s, revealing the emotional and social complexities that cloud their unconventional union, and beseeches her aid in persuading Anna towards a difficult but necessary resolution. Through their conversation beneath the dappled garden light, the subtle tensions of love, duty, and societal constraint become quietly apparent, i...

In which Anna Karenina welcomes her old friend Dolly to her country estate, revealing a serene happiness in her new life that is both surprising and deeply human in its quiet strength. Their conversation gently unfolds amidst the renewed splendour of the estate and the humble realities of daily life, marked by a delicate tenderness and unspoken understanding.