Anna Karenina Readalong, 2023

No worries, I just wanted to reassure you just in case you were thinking it, as that’s the 2nd time you’ve said that

Thanks @StColumbofNavron , I agree, I understand that this is a readalong of the book. I wasn’t trying to start a discussion about the various adaptations. Your comment reminded me of the adaptation which I liked a lot, that’s all🙂

Completely agree! Best version of AK on TV

That's such an interesting point, Piggy! I suspect 19th c. French novels are perhaps more like the Russian ones in that they feature more aristocrats and more extramarital affairs! And presumably educated Russians of the day read a lot of French novels, like Vronsky in Ch 19. Though Anna is reading an English novel on the train in Part 1. I'd love to know which French and English novels Vronsky and Anna were reading!

Even in France today, extramarital affairs seem to me to be far more culturally acceptable than they are in the Anglophone world.

Gosh, that's one sultry-looking Vronsky. 😀

Izfuzzy, your Kindle edition is missing the two rows of dots between chapters 10 and 11! It's not a normal three-dot ellipsis, it's two whole lines. Here is a bad photo of the page as it looks in my edition (also Pevear and Volokhonsky, Penguin Classics paperback).

I say.

😄 and low carbing was a thing back then too :)

25/02/23

Part 2, Chapter 21

•	Vronsky arrives at the stable, which is manned by an Englishman. (Vronsky reveals to us that he has the ability to speak English.)

•	The name of Vronsky's horse is Frou Frou. He has to resist temptation to check out Frou Frou's number one rival, a horse named Gladiator. Gladiator will be ridden by Vronsky's number one rival, a man named Makhotin.

•	The Englishman says that if Vronsky were riding Gladiator, he would bet on him. Vronsky's pleased with the compliment to his riding skills.

•	As it is, Vronsky is riding Frou Frou. He's pleased to see her. Her body has plenty of flaws, but Vronsky notes that it doesn't matter because she has good blood. He also feels confidence in his own "pluck" and riding ability.
•	

The mare is excited. Vronsky also gets excited about the race.
•
The Englishman tells Vronsky that the most important thing to do before a race is to keep cool.
•
Vronsky goes off to visit Anna at her country house.
•
In the carriage, he reads his mother's letter and brother's note.
•
Vronsky gets angry as he reads, since he thinks they have no right to interfere with his relationship with Anna. He knows that if it was an ordinary society love affair, they wouldn't care.
•
At heart he feels like his mother and brother are correct in their concern. This is not a fleeting passion, but an intense love, and he suddenly feels how painful it is for both of them to have to conceal their relationship when they are so exposed to public opinion.
•
Vronsky hates the necessary lies and deceit. He has had a vague feeling of disgust ever since he started the affair. Anna has also been under strain—she can no longer be serene and dignified.
•
Vronsky decides that all the lying must stop. He also decides that they need to abandon everything and to be alone together.

Vronsky is balding? I missed that!
piggy mentally readjusts James Norton image.

I had a look back and my copy does have the three dots... but I'm obviously not as good at reading the subtle signs (although looking at it now, it's fairly obvious!)

I think it's interesting that they're showing us a bit more about who Vronsky is at rhe moment... despite his cad-like behaviour with Anna, it's clear he's well liked and respected in his regiment but I guess it's very different there than in society life. He also 'plays the game' better - the fact he didn't size up his rivals horse and accepts his comrades joshing without recourse. Do his fellow soldiers know about his liason, do you think?

24/02/23

Part 2, Chapter 20

•	Vronsky lives in a spacious Finnish cottage with Petritsky now that the regiment is out in the country.

•	Yashvin prods Petritsky with a toe and wakes up the man. Petritsky is suffering the consequences of having drunk too much the night before.

•	According to Petritsky, Vronsky's older brother called on him.

•	Petritsky is cranky and has a bad taste in his mouth. Yashvin suggests drinking some vodka. Petritsky tries to get everyone else to drink with him. Finally he remembers that Vronsky's brother left a letter. He tries to remember where he left it, and finally locates the letter.

•	In the letter, both Vronsky's brother and mother complain. His mother complains that Vronsky hasn't come to see her, and his brother says that he wants to talk to Vronsky.

•	Vronsky leaves to inspect his racehorse (and see Anna). Also, he's avoiding drinking because he doesn't want to add to his weight before the races.

•	On his way out, some officers make fun of his premature baldness.

I was struck by the attitude of Vronksy’s mother. She was not upset he was having an affair with another man’s wife, in fact she thought that added to his image in a positive way. Anna’s place in society was what made it acceptable to her. What she didn’t like was that she feared that her son actually liked the woman in question.

Just sharing the page from my Kindle with the ellipses highlighted. (P and V edition).

Cludgie 😂

I can't believe how the two of you missed that chapter 😅 Would you like a notification next time there is a passionate scene? (Only joking!)

I looked up the term for the three dots in a text (an ellipses). I had forgotten what it is called. Tolstoy is fond of using these, particularly in dialogue. Is that what you are all referring to, by the way, or am I missing out on more dots?!

Ps the chat on cads and rotters has reminded me of a conversation at one of the office jobs I had as a teenager. Some of my colleagues were musing on what a 'cad' was, I responded with 'the same as an 18th-century bounder' and got a mix of strange looks and laughs for my trouble. Up until I left I was periodically reminded of the bounder comment...

Same @SanFranBear , I tend to come back to this thread after I've read a chapter or two of the book, but I got too caught up with other things and was well into the farming chapters by the time I realised that Anna and Vronsky had got it on. I dont even have the excuse of inebriation to account for that missed nugget!

I'm embarrassed to admit - I hadn't twigged that Anna and that utter scoundrel and rogue (😉) Vronsky had consummated their passion!!! Maybe because I didn't have the three, mysterious dots?

I'm reading along and up to date but that juicy detail totally skipped me (although I did read one chapter after a skinful which might well have been Ch12... I'm off back to reread!)

A cad and a bounder . And a rotter. Lawks.

A bounder is someone who tries to present themselves as someone above their station, according to Collins. Similar to cad. Also, 'rotter' deserves an honourable mention!

And what's a bounder??

By George!

and who was George anyway?

😁

'He's a bit of a rake'.
'He's such a cad'.

Yes, I think rake is more like whathisname in Clarissa . Who I can only think of as Sean Bean.