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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.

OP posts:
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32
cassandre · 16/01/2023 13:05

Gosh this is like candy compared to War and Peace, ha. I'm really enjoying it.

Looks like from today's chapter that Kitty's dad is right and Vronsky is only up for a fling, not marriage!

So many parallels between Pierre/Levin and Natasha/Kitty.

At the moment I'm thinking, Kitty, just go for Levin, he really loves you and he will make you happier in the end.

CaptBuckyOHare · 16/01/2023 14:05

cassandre · 16/01/2023 13:05

Gosh this is like candy compared to War and Peace, ha. I'm really enjoying it.

Looks like from today's chapter that Kitty's dad is right and Vronsky is only up for a fling, not marriage!

So many parallels between Pierre/Levin and Natasha/Kitty.

At the moment I'm thinking, Kitty, just go for Levin, he really loves you and he will make you happier in the end.

Nah. Levin is infatuated with an idealised version of Kitty. Once the shine has worn off and he's left with a real person, he'll fall out of 'love' with her as quickly as he did her sisters.

Kitty needs to sack them both off.

maranella · 16/01/2023 14:56

I'm enjoying this and finding it easier to get into than I did W&P in the early chapters. I must admit I'm distracted though by the similarities between characters in the two books. In my head I keep confusing Levin with Pierre and Kitty with Natasha. Vronsky so far is a mash-up of Anatole Kuragin with his flirtatiousness and Nikolai Rostov with his selfish disregard of others' feelings and concerns - at least in my head!

maranella · 16/01/2023 14:57

LOL - I see I'm not alone in my confusion!

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 16/01/2023 15:41

Part 1, Chapter 16

In this chapter, we get a glimpse into Vronsky's head.

•	He's never had a real family life. His mother was renowned for her beauty and her affairs. Vronsky barely remembers his father. He was more or less brought up in the Corps of Pages, a military school, where he became a brilliant officer.

•	Vronsky is rich, charming, and handsome—of course he's been pretty lucky with the ladies.
•	
•	Used to the devices of society women (about which we'll find out more in a later chapter), Kitty's pure heart has something rare and charming about it, and Vronsky's delighted with her company.
•

He is completely unaware that he might be leading her on, or that he's expected to propose to Kitty after courting her so publicly.

•	Marriage doesn't seem like a possibility to him. Vronsky doesn't like family life, and pictures the role of the family, and especially that of the husband, as completely alien to him, ridiculous, even.
•

He goes to bed quite undisturbed, and happy that he had a pleasant night at the Shcherbatsky house.

MyCousinDaphne · 16/01/2023 22:14

I do think the characters are so well drawn. Vronsky has so many bad qualities yet we finish the chapter almost nodding along... yes, why should he enjoy family life?! So clever!

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 17/01/2023 09:25

Part 1 chapter 17

•	The next morning, Oblonsky and Vronsky arrive at the train station at the same time. Oblonsky is picking up his sister Anna Karenina (we're finally going to meet the title character), and Vronsky is picking up his mother.
•	They chat about Levin and Kitty. Oblonsky finds Levin a nice, but conservative young man. Still, Oblonsky thinks that Levin is a fundamentally decent guy. Vronsky thinks that he's, yes, educated and upstanding, but also edgy and angry.
•	
•	The train arrives.
•	Vronsky feels, that as a member of society, he ought to show obedience and respect for his mother. In actuality though, the more outward obedience and respect he shows, the less he actually feels for her.
Magentax · 17/01/2023 09:57

I'm really enjoying the book so far. Vronsky is interesting, does he really not see anything wrong with leading Kitty on in this way? It reminds me a little of the marriage machinations in Edith Wharton novels (set in high society New York about 20 years later than AK is set), it was terrifyingly easy for women to put a foot wrong in courtship or general behaviour and it could ruin their life. The stakes were so high.

SydneyCarton · 17/01/2023 11:34

I agree about Vronsky - surely he's not so naive as to understand the implications of his behaviour? He may not personally agree with society's assumptions that his attentions towards Kitty are intended to end with a proposal, but I can't believe he would be totally ignorant of them. Even Levin the "country bumpkin" understands it!

Sadik · 17/01/2023 17:43

I think he's carefully refusing to be aware of the implications.

Do others think that Tolstoy wants us to see Levin as a good bet that Kitty has refused? Or is he is expecting us to see (as CaptBucky says) that he's in love with an idealised version of her and his devotion will prove about as long lasting as Stiva's for her sister? Or equally, is it all about being married to someone who won't be actively cruel to you, even if they are likely to take you into the depths of the country away from your family and friends, and be unfaithful as soon as you're no longer a beautiful untouched teenager?

CornishLizard · 17/01/2023 18:54

That’s a good question! I think he identifies with the socially awkward Levin and read it that Levin has the best of intentions and would cherish Kitty (this wouldn’t preclude him sleeping around of course) so she’s had her head turned to her own disadvantage. From Dolly’s dad’s perspective Vronsky is another Oblonsky and neither are approved of.

wrt Vronsky’s thoughtlessness/deliberate refusal to consider the implications - I’m 3 episodes into the bbc W&P and it’s brought out callousness in Nicolai’s behaviour towards Sonya earlier than I remember and there are perhaps resonances?

SanFranBear · 18/01/2023 11:22

Yay... Anna has arrived - and sounds fabulous!

I'm sat here, nodding along to your wonderful comments.. I thoroughly enjoy your musings and have to agree with Magentax re courtship. Although of course, the 'dangers' were all on the women's side - yes, people will likely disapprove of a man leading a woman on as in the Vronsky/Kitty saga but it's probably her fault if he decides against popping the question, whatever the reason reason.

SanFranBear · 18/01/2023 11:24

*real reason...

And also YES - such an easy read compared to W&P but I quite like that Tolstoy seems more frivolous - he really knows how to bring characters alive and I am so looking forward to seeing where this goes!

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 18/01/2023 20:42

Part 1, Chapter 18

•	Vronsky follows the conductor into the car, looking for his mother.
•	On his way in, a woman walks past him. She merits a second glance because of the expression on her face. She's tender, sweet, beautiful, and radiates life.
•	Vronsky finds his mother, the Countess Vronsky, and while he talks to her, he eavesdrops on the woman who just passed him.
•	He realizes that it's Anna, Oblonsky's sister and Karenin's wife.
•	
•	Vronsky helps her find Oblonsky.
•	After Anna finds her brother, she comes back to say good-bye to the Countess. The two of them had been chatting about their sons during the entire train ride from Petersburg. Anna has an eight-year old son, Seryozha, whom she's never left behind before.
•	The Countess tells Anna that she has fallen in love with her.
•	Vronsky makes small talk with his mother, and they prepare to leave the station.
•	Their departure is interrupted by a commotion. A guard was drunk and didn't hear the train; he was run over by the car.
•	Vronsky and Oblonsky see the body and tell the women that the guard's wife has flung herself on his body. Apparently, the guard was the family's sole provider.
•	Anna asks if something can be done for the family.
•	Vronsky disappears.
•	We find out that he has given two hundred rubles to the widow.
•	The Vronskys leave.
•	As Anna and her brother leave, they hear people gossip about the death. Anna is visibly disturbed.
•	
•	Anna asks her brother about Vronsky, but doesn't pursue the matter. Instead, she asks about his problems at home.
•	Oblonsky takes her to his house, and then goes off to the office.
DesdamonasHandkerchief · 19/01/2023 11:48

PART 1, Chapter 19

•	Oblonsky's wife, Dolly, is with one of her sons, Grisha, when Anna comes in.
•	Although she told her husband that she didn't care about Anna's arrival, Dolly remembers that Anna is, in fact, a big deal because her husband Karenin is one of the most important people in Petersburg. As a result, Dolly prepares carefully for Anna's arrival.
•	Dolly is willing to give Anna a try: she wants to tell Anna everything. But she's also angry and humiliated that she wants to talk about Oblonsky's cheating heart with his sister.
•	
•	Anna comes into the room, and Dolly tries to figure out if she knows about their situation (i.e., Oblonsky's affair with the governess). Dolly concludes that Anna does in fact know.
•	Anna asks Dolly after all the children, remembering their names, ages, and everything about them. She greets Tanya, Dolly's daughter, when she comes running in and then running out.
•	Dolly expresses envy for Anna's vitality.
•	Finally, the two of them sit down for coffee.
•	Anna gets down to business, and Dolly's coldly resentful, because she expects Anna to repeat the clichés everyone's told Dolly already.
•	Anna doesn't do that, though. Anna says that she doesn't want to defend her brother or console Dolly, but that she's sorry "from the bottom of [her] heart" for Dolly.
•	Then, she asks for Dolly's version of events.
•	It turns out that Dolly thought it impossible that Stiva would ever be unfaithful.
•	She points out that all her good looks were taken away by her husband and children.
•	Dolly is especially horrified by the idea that her husband and his mistress discussed her.
•	
•	Anna finds this impossible because for men of Stiva's position, their home and their wives are sacred territory, not to be mixed with their mistresses.
•	Anna succeeds in convincing Dolly to forgive Stiva by asking if there is enough love left in her heart. And she points out that Stiva still loves and respects Dolly. Dolly asks if he'll do it again, and Anna assures her that he won't.
•	Dolly asks Anna if she could forgive adultery, and Anna says that she would forgive in such a way that she could go on as though it hadn't happened at all. Dolly agrees that, if you forgive, it must be completely.
•	Dolly is much more relaxed and thanks Anna for coming.
InTheCludgie · 19/01/2023 15:34

Anyone else wondering why exactly we should feel sorry for Stiva? Women really were in an impossible position, weren't they? I wonder what the position would be if it were the woman caught having an affair and not the man....

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 19/01/2023 17:02

I think we may find out 😂

InTheCludgie · 19/01/2023 18:32

Indeed @DesdamonasHandkerchief , it seems a bit transparent doesn't it?! 😂

MamaNewtNewt · 19/01/2023 23:20

On first impressions I really don't like Anna. I know Stephen is her brother but the way she was manipulating Dolly was just awful.

InTheCludgie · 20/01/2023 06:33

Those were my thoughts too @MamaNewtNewt , poor Dolly.

Magentax · 20/01/2023 08:10

I don't know though. From Anna's point of view she is helping her, the idea of breaking the family up over normal male behaviour would be terrible to her I assume.

countrygirl99 · 20/01/2023 08:39

I imagine that, in those days, leaving your husband was fraught with pitfalls both financial and social. Not something to be done in the heat of the moment.

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 20/01/2023 09:18

Yes, I have been thinking about that. It seems like Stepan is being let off the hook, but I think Anna may have Dolly's best interests at heart. She wouldn't have any support or sympathy if she left him, I imagine?

StephanieSuperpowers · 20/01/2023 09:36

Not only would she not have any moral support, she probably wouldn't have much financial support and she may not be able to leave with her children, and if she did, they would suffer as penniless outcasts with her.

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 20/01/2023 09:54

Part 1, Chapter 20

•	Anna spends the day at her brother's house without receiving anyone. Instead, she sits with her sister-in-law, nephews and nieces. She sends Oblonsky a note telling him to eat dinner at home: "Come, God is merciful," she writes.

•	At dinner, it's clear that reconciliation is possible between Dolly and Stiva.

•	Kitty comes in after dinner, nervous about whether Anna will like her, and then promptly falls in love with Anna, "as young girls are capable of being in love with older married ladies" (1.20.3).
•	
•	Kitty finds Anna beautiful and simple, but sometimes there is a sorrow in her eyes that suggests another side to Anna, a poetic, inaccessible side.

•	Anna tells her brother to go talk to his wife.

•	All five of the Oblonsky children fall for Anna as thoroughly as Kitty does, playing a game where they all try to touch her and play with her hair and jewelry.

•	Anna and Kitty chat about the upcoming ball, then Anna mentions meeting Vronsky and congratulates Kitty about him. She leaves out the bit about Vronsky donating two hundred rubles to that widow, which, for some reason, she finds unpleasant to remember.

•	Anna says she is visiting the Countess Vronsky tomorrow, and resumes playing with her nieces and nephews.