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Anna Karenina Readalong, 2023

958 replies

StColumbofNavron · 28/12/2022 21:30

Following the success of W&P in 2022, we’ve decided to stick with Tolstoy for 2023 and read Anna Karenina, one chapter per day.

For newbies: we simply read one chapter a day and discussion is allowed with a broader chat at the end of each section. Tolstoy’s chapters are nice and short, flicking through average length is about 4 pages.

I have used the Penguin Classics (2001, 2003) trans. by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky for the breakdown below. More on editions below.

There are 249 chapters in this edition and the book is in 8 parts taking us to 14 September with a break of a day between each book. Hopefully, irrespective of the edition you pick the finishing of each ‘book’ will hopefully align.

Book 1, ch. 1-34 (1 Jan-3 Feb)
BREAK, 4 Feb
Book 2, ch. 1-35 (5 Feb-11 Mar)
BREAK, 12 March
Book 3, ch. 1-32 (13 Mar-13 Apr)
BREAK, 14 Apr
Book 4, ch. 1-23 (15 Apr-7 May)
BREAK, 8 May
Book 5, ch. 1-33 (9 May-10 Jun)
BREAK, 11 Jun
Book 6, ch. 1-32 (12 Jun-14 Jul)
BREAK, 15 Jul
Book 7, ch. 1-31 (16 Jul-15 Aug)
BREAK, 16 Aug
Book 8, ch. 1-29 (17 Aug-14 Sept)

Some info on different translations and editions in the links below. Maud, Aylmer and Pevear and Volonkhonsky all present once again.

Wikipedia here
Tolstoy Therapy
New York Times
Some thoughts on Pevear and Volonkhonsky contenting the Russian Lit market

For reasons best known to me (largely foolish) I decided look up and work it all out on my phone instead of laptop, so apologies for any inaccuracies, typos etc. I am certain I have forgotten something, got my numbering wrong somewhere, but hopefully broadly correct.

All that remains is to say welcome back to those who are remaining committed to Tolstoy, thank you to those who organised and helped the last read run smoothly and welcome, do come in to those joining.

p.s. I would love to see the covers of your books.

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DesdamonasHandkerchief · 12/01/2023 10:08

Part 1, Chapter 12

•	We now get a recap of what's been going on in Kitty's social life:
•	She came out at the age of eighteen. (Coming out for women in the 19th Century, meant that they were socially eligible to marry.)

•	All the men courted her, and two were serious about it: Levin and Vronsky.

•	Kitty's mother doesn't approve of Levin because she doesn't understand his country ways, and thinks that he's socially awkward and has too much pride.

•	Kitty's father thinks that Levin is a fine match.

•	Kitty's mother approves strongly of Vronsky.

•	Vronsky, it turns out, has been very attentive to Kitty, which makes the elder Princess Shcherbatsky (Kitty's mom) hopeful of a pending engagement.

•	There is a slight digression into Princess Shcherbatsky's thoughts on the difficulty of marriage, since the current social climate condemns arranged marriages as old-fashioned, while complete liberty for women is not an option. The Princess is confused about the best way to marry off her last daughter.

•	The Princess knows that Kitty is in love with Vronsky, but is worried that Vronsky is just flirting with her.

•	Kitty tells her mother that Vronsky has said he never makes any important decisions without first consulting his mother, and that his mother will be arriving soon.

•	Kitty's mother thinks this means the decision—to marry Kitty or not to marry Kitty—may be made soon.

•	The Princess is further afraid that Levin will propose to Kitty and that Kitty will say yes out of some sense of honor. She tries to broach the subject with Kitty, but Kitty gets shy, and refuses to talk about it.
SanFranBear · 12/01/2023 10:13

So wait... the Shcherbatsky's have been married 30 years and, whilst I guess it wouldn't be unheard of, I presume that they waited until marriage to start their family? So Dolly, as the first born, is under 30??? And washed up - and how young was she when she started having children...

I know timelines can be a bit wooly in yhr classics and it was a different time yadda yadda yadda... but jeez - I get the feeling the whole 'fallen women' spiel reflects Tolstoy's own views very closely!

Magentax · 12/01/2023 11:48

Dolly is 33 I think, one year younger than her husband who is 34.

JamesGiantPledge1 · 12/01/2023 14:02

I have read to the end of chapter 11 and I am find the men rather annoying. It seems the perfect woman is a virginal young girl who suddenly, after a few years of marriage and child bearing, turns into a has been. Should she make an error along this path, she is an unlikeable fallen woman. In a world in which it was hard for a woman to support herself or have any independence, this is a hard place to navigate.

Original poster
StColumbofNavron · 12/01/2023 15:03

MamaNewtNewt · 11/01/2023 22:52

This chapter did not endear the main male character to me. Isn't is about time Anna turned up by the way? I'm holding out hope for an ass-kicking heroine who will sort the idiots out!

Oh @MamaNewtNewt … Anna!

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GreyaSlipereva · 12/01/2023 20:10

Today’s chapter made me think about how good Tolstoy is at inner voices. He can have a large cast of characters and keep a feeling of intimacy with the complex inner voice.

whatausername · 12/01/2023 21:50

Just completed chapter 12, I wonder why Tolstoy wrote such short chapters.

MamaNewtNewt · 12/01/2023 22:04

Kitty seems very, very young in this chapter. I really hope she does not end up with Levin.

MamaNewtNewt · 14/01/2023 00:07

Hmmm after reading today's chapter I'm not that convinced about Kitty not having some romantic feelings for Levin. I did feel sorry for him as well.

Also I totally missed the fact that the Shcherbatsky brother is dead.

BeastOfBODMAS · 14/01/2023 07:27

I really enjoyed the proposal, it showed how awkward Levin is and Kitty’s immaturity.
“mumble mumble wife?”
”nah….soz”

No over-written speeches needed

Piggywaspushed · 14/01/2023 07:34

Yes, feeling increasing sympathy for the provincial Levin amongst these sneering metropolitans. According to my blurb, Levin is based on Tolstoy himself so presumably that's why we align with him so much. Yes,he's a bit dull, awkward and pedantic but he seems sincere.

Reading Russian literature makes it very clear why there was a Revolution!

I was amused by the references to the differences in marriage freedoms for women in France,Russia and ever so liberal Britain. Having just finished Woman In White, I'm not sure I concur !

Ulysses · 14/01/2023 07:45

Tolstoy's writing of Levin's awkwardness is so visceral. Onto chapter 14 and after he replies to the adversarial Countess Rostov for the second time with the same comment, well I cringed all the way to my toes.

Tarahumara · 14/01/2023 09:28

So far I'm enjoying this more than War & Peace at the same stage. Fewer characters to keep track of!

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 14/01/2023 13:05

Part 1, Chapter 13

•	Kitty is compared to a young man going into combat, as she prepares herself to go out to a party where she might receive a proposal of marriage.

Tonight is also the night when her two suitors, Levin and Vronsky, will meet one another for the first time.

•	Levin sits down with her and stammers out his proposal.

•	Kitty refuses him, saying, "It is impossible. Forgive me."

Part 1, Chapter 14

•	The Princess finally comes into the room, and begins to question Levin about life in the country.

•	Countess Nordston, a friend of Kitty's, enters. She's rooting for Vronsky, and really dislikes Levin.

•	Countess Nordston and Levin outwardly look like they're on friendly terms, but they secretly dislike each other. The Countess tries to pick a fight with him over the status of the peasantry (a.k.a. muzhiks) by saying that all of the tenants on her lands spend all of their time drinking and not paying rent.
•	
•	Vronsky arrives. Levin is curious to see what sort of man he is, since Levin knows that Vronsky is his main rival for Kitty's affections.

•	They all make idle conversation about which is better, the countryside or the city, and Levin keeps meaning to leave but can't figure out how, because he feels somehow that he is waiting for something.

•	They then have a discussion on spiritualism, in which Countess Nordston believes.

•	Levin is awkward in advancing his rationalist opinion, and has to be saved by Kitty and Vronsky. In particular, Vronsky feels that the conversation has become tense, and turns the conversation to electricity, a new force that science is just beginning to understand.

•	Levin counters that electricity was the discovery of an existing phenomenon, but that spiritualism depends on the invention of a medium who wants it to be there. In other words, we can observe electricity without imagining what it will do next or knowing where it comes from, but spiritualism is based on wishful thinking about moving tables and spirits.

•	Everyone feels a little bit embarrassed by Levin's passion and seriousness. To break the awkwardness, Vronsky suggests that they search out a table and give this spiritualism thing a try.
•

Kitty feels bad about turning Levin down, but at the same time is happy with her choice of Vronsky.
•
• Kitty's father comes in and obviously favors Levin over Vronsky.

•	Vronsky asks Kitty if she's going to the ball next week, and her happy face is the last thing Levin sees before he slips out the door.
BumpyaDaisyevna · 14/01/2023 13:35

I think it's so exciting- we've already met some great characters and bonded with them in some way already as they are very alive - Stepan, Levin, Kitty, Dolly, Vronsky.

And then you realise we haven't even met Anna yet and she's the one the books about!!

Sadik · 14/01/2023 17:08

Yes, I'm really enjoying the first chapters, much more than War & Peace.

InTheCludgie · 14/01/2023 19:29

Yes, this is definitely more readable than W&P, at times it was a real slog with the war sections. Hopefully the farming in this book isnt the 'war' equivalent!

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 15/01/2023 10:11

Part 1, Chapter 15

•	After the party, Kitty feels bad about the mess with Levin, but at the same time can't feel too bad because Vronsky's in her life.

•	Her parents have a raging argument about the situation. The Prince feels strongly that Vronsky isn't really in love with Kitty, whereas Levin is a man who loves Kitty.

•	He yells at his wife for all her machinations. The Princess actually begins to start having doubts.
•	
•	They make the sign of the cross over each other and go to bed.
CornishLizard · 15/01/2023 19:40

I’m really enjoying the book so far. I really liked this chapter - Kitty and Dolly’s dad’s view of Stiva is a nice antidote to the earlier section which felt like an apologia for Stiva’s behaviour. I like how we inhabit different mindsets along the way.

Original poster
StColumbofNavron · 16/01/2023 07:47

Any views on Vronsky? Since I’m re-reading I’m trying not to be leading.

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CornishLizard · 16/01/2023 08:21

Difficult to say - I haven’t read the book before but have read enough blurb not to be entirely neutral! I do think Tolstoy sympathises with the socially awkward Levin so am hoping the meek shall inherit…

MamaNewtNewt · 16/01/2023 08:27

I'm not enamoured with Vronsky, he doesn't seem to have much personality and just goes along with the room. I'm even more wary after hearing what the Prince said. It might just be that he is biased because he favours Levin, but maybe he's into something.

Thethingswedoforlove · 16/01/2023 08:36

I am naive enough to have been shocked by the latest BBC chapter. Feel silly for not expecting this.

Thethingswedoforlove · 16/01/2023 08:37

Not bbc chapter obv! Just chapter

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 16/01/2023 08:37

I thought he came across as immature, but it's early days yet!