Anna Karenina is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that was first published in its complete form in 1878 after having been published in installments between 1875 and 1877. Believed by many critics to be among the the greatest novels ever written, Anna Karenina examines social change in 19th-century Imperial Russia, the blessings of family life, and the philosophical value of farming as it describes the hopeless triangle of its heroine, Anna, her husband, and her lover.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in Anna Karenina and in-depth analyses of Anna Karenina, Konstantin Levin, Alexei Karenin, Alexei Vronsky, and Stiva Oblonsky.

Literary Devices

Here is where you will find analysis of the main themes, motifs, and symbols in Anna Karenina.

Quotes

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Quick Quizzes

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Deeper Study

Go further in your study of Anna Karenina by reading background information about Leo Tolstoy and his novel, an explanation of Russian naming conventions, and three mini essays about key topics in the novel.