Anna Karenina, written by Leo Tolstoy and published in 1877, is one of the greatest novels ever written — a deep exploration of love, morality, and the struggles of human life. Set in 19th-century Russia, it tells the tragic story of Anna, a beautiful, intelligent woman trapped in an unhappy marriage to the respectable but cold Alexei Karenin.
When Anna meets the charming officer Count Vronsky, she falls passionately in love, and their affair quickly becomes the center of scandal in Russian high society. As Anna follows her heart, she faces isolation, judgment, and the painful consequences of defying the strict moral rules of her world. Her inner conflict between love and duty slowly leads her toward despair.
Parallel to Anna’s story is that of Konstantin Levin, a kind and thoughtful landowner searching for meaning in work, faith, and family. Through him, Tolstoy explores questions about happiness, morality, and the purpose of life.
Anna Karenina is not just a love story — it is a reflection on society, hypocrisy, and the human condition. Tolstoy shows how passion, pride, and loneliness can both uplift and destroy. The novel remains timeless because it speaks to the heart — to the pain of wanting love in a world full of judgment and misunderstanding./United States Tradition/
