Anna Karenina Readalong, 2023

[StColumbofNavron]

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.

I think she should have said all that to Dolly though, the way she handled it just felt so underhand and manipulative. She should have done her the courtesy of telling her like it is.

It's tricky - given that there's no good answer for Dolly, maybe encouraging her to see the best in her situation is the least-worst option?

Part 1, Chapter 21

•	Dolly and Oblonsky have reconciled. Everyone has tea and seems happy. Then something weird happens.

•	Anna goes upstairs to get a photo album to show everyone. As she leaves the front door bell rings.

•	A servant opens the door just as Anna is crossing the landing, and there's Vronsky. She and Vronsky look at each other, and Anna feels both pleasure and fear.
•	
•	Vronsky also appears ashamed and frightened to catch a glimpse of her. Anna nods her head and moves on as she hears Oblonsky inviting Vronsky in and Vronsky politely declining.

•	Vronsky gives a fairly ridiculous reason for being there (that he wanted to find out about a dinner they were holding for a visiting celebrity the next day) and refuses to go inside, even though Oblonsky tries to convince him.
•	

Kitty thinks it's because of her.
•
Everyone feels kind of uncomfortable about the whole episode, especially Anna.

I am absolutely loving this reread. It’s the second time I have read it slowly like this and I love the few moments of thinking about what I have just read rather than rushing on.

I think it’s very clever how long it feels that Tolstoy leaves us waiting for Anna to turn up. It’s sometimes tricky to articulate what I think about a chapter because even though I can avoid spoilers having read ir before (and seen many adaptations which certainly cloud how you see the story) does impact the way I see things and characters.

Keeping in mind that divorce would see Dolly childless, penniless and friendless I think Anna did Dolly a kindness. She helped her find her dignity and some agency.

We had to wait ages to meet her. But she is worth the wait. She is lovely - everyone likes her, and she has time and energy for everyone, even the kids.

The discomfort is so well written, I get a slight knot in my stomach!

I am finding it much more difficult not to read ahead with Anna Karenina, than I did with War and Peace!

Checking in with you all to say really enjoying AK so far but finding it easily to read in batches of 3-4 days in one go!

I'm reading a few chapters at a time and going back on the chapter of the day.

to the chapter. * *

I agree, it's hard not to read ahead!

I also felt uncomfortable with the conversation between Anna and Dolly (in ch. 19). I wondered if Anna really believed everything she was saying or if she was just trying to preserve the marriage at all costs. But I agree that to leave Stepan would have been utterly impracticable for Dolly in the circumstances she is in.

I also think it's important that Anna actually listened to Dolly and her point of view rather than just storming in and telling her what to do. Sometimes when something awful has happened, we just need to get it all off our chest to a sympathetic listener, and Anna fulfills that role for Dolly.

I'm interested in the way Tolstoy portrays Anna. Unlike say Helene in War and Peace, she's a very maternal figure, brimming over with love for her son and her nieces and nephews. She's not being portrayed in a negative way at all. How will this fit in with how she transgresses later? (I don't want to be spoilery and I know next to nothing about the novel, but I have a couple of main plot events stuck in my head already, thanks to pop culture and to having read the book and swiftly forgotten it when I was in my teens!)

Part 1, Chapter 22

•	Kitty looks beautiful at the ball Oblonsky is holding, and she's having a good night.
•	She dances with the best dancer there, a married man named Korsunksy who is the master of ceremonies. The two of them dance over to Anna.
•	Kitty wanted to see Anna wearing lilac, but instead Anna is stunning in a black dress trimmed with Venetian lace. Kitty realizes that Anna could never wear a showy color like lilac, because Anna never seeks to stand out in a crowd according to her dress.
•	
•	Korsunksy asks Anna to dance, but she refuses. Then Vronsky comes over and bows to her. Anna quickly accepts Korsunksy's offer of a dance.
•	Kitty wonders why Anna deliberately ignores Vronsky's bow to her.
•	Vronsky is obviously distracted too. He forgets to ask Kitty to dance, and she looks at him with obvious surprise, until he remembers himself and asks her.
•	Vronsky and Kitty embrace each other as they prepare to waltz, and Kitty gives Vronsky an incredibly loving glance. It's not returned.

I'm really impressed with Kitty's perceptiveness and honesty with herself in this chapter. I felt so sorry for her. Not sure if I'm meant to like her but I just cannot warm to Anna.

I like Kitty, she's so young and optimistic - I really felt her pain in this.

I must confess I was unable to resist reading ahead a bit! It's a much easier read than I was expecting - certainly compared to War and Peace which I failed to finish about 20 years ago!

The line about remembering the look of love she gave him that wasn't returned and being tormented by it years later made me feel worried for her. I hope she will not get involved with him.

Oops think I missed a day!

Part 1, Chapter 23

•	Vronsky and Kitty waltz and make idle small talk.
•	Kitty assumes that he is going to ask her to dance the mazurka, because they always do that, and it's the most important dance of the ball.
•	Although Vronsky hasn't actually asked her yet, she refuses five other partners for the mazurka.
•	
•	While dancing the final quadrille (another kind of ballroom dance)with someone else, Kitty happens to glance over and see Anna and Vronsky.
•	Anna has that happy glow people get when they're around someone they really click with.
•	Kitty tries to figure out who is responsible for Anna's "I'm-into-you" aura. To her horror, she realizes that it's Vronsky, who is wearing a similar expression, an expression that Kitty has never seen before.
•	Even though Anna and Vronsky are just making small talk, it's clear that the conversation means a lot to both of them.
•	Kitty feels nauseated.
•	The mazurka begins, and now she doesn't have a partner.
•	Kitty sits down. Countess Nordston comes over and says that he asked her for the mazurka.
•	Kitty is feeling awful: she just turned down one marriage proposal (Levin) because she trusted that another man (Vronsky) was in love with her. Now it turns out he's not.
•	
•	Countess Nordston is also at the ball. She sees that something is the matter between Kitty and Vronsky, and so she finds Korsunsky, asking him to dance the mazurka with Kitty. He does invite her, but while she's on the dance floor, she bumps into Vronsky and feels crushed by his lack of interest.
•	Kitty watches Anna and Vronsky and broods. She thinks to herself that there is something "alien, demonic, and enchanting" (1.23.21) about Anna.
•	Although Korsunksy, the host, pressures her to stay for supper, Anna refuses, saying that she is leaving tomorrow.

Part 1, Chapter 24

•	Levin feels terrible after having been so out of place in Moscow high society—his self-confidence is at a dismal low. He thinks that he's a loathsome person who doesn't deserve anything.
•	He goes to visit his brother, Nicholas, the troubled man whom he talked about with Koznyshev (remember, Koznyshev is his half-brother).
•	
•	Levin believes that he and Nicholas have similar souls.
•	For quite some time, Nicolas has lived like a monk—fasting and praying and abstaining from pleasure. Everyone, including Levin, made fun of him.
•	Levin believes that Nicholas isn't to blame for his bad character, because he always has good intentions—they just haven't worked out in practice.
•	Levin is determined to help his brother.
•	When Levin arrives at his brother's apartment, other people are there. Nicholas is very thin, weak, and sickly.
•	Nicholas addresses Levin as "Kostya" (his nickname), and demands to know why Levin has come for a visit.
•	Levin says there's no particular reason. Nicholas introduces Levin to Kritsky, with whom he has been friends with since they spent time together in Kiev. Nicholas also introduces Levin to Masha Nikolayevna, whom he took out of a whorehouse and insists that everyone respect as his wife.
•	
•	Nicholas orders Masha to fix dinner for three.

Part 1, Chapter 25

•	Nicholas talks about a new initiative of his, a manufacturing association.

•	Levin looks at his brother, who's looking sickly and consumptive (consumption was the 19th century term for the fatal lung disease, tuberculosis).

•	Levin understands that the business association is a means for Nicholas to feel productive, and feels sorry for him.
•	
•	Nicholas continues to talk about his manufacturing association, which will set up a communal earning system in which everyone will bear the burden of the labor, but they will also share all the profits to improve their situations.
•	

Nicholas is very sensitive about this plan of his, and assumes that Levin and Koznyshev would both be opposed to it because of their "aristocratic views." Levin is surprised at Nicholas's fit of temper, and promises him that he doesn't despise the idea at all.

•	Nicholas brings up an article by Koznyshev and denounces his views on justice (which he doesn't describe). He asks Kritsky if he's read the article yet, and Kritsky says no. Kritsky slowly grabs his hat and coat and leaves.

•	Masha and Levin discuss Nicholas's health when he and Kritsky step out of the room. Masha has been with him for two years now, and she's seen that his drinking is getting worse and worse.

•	When they start eating, Levin sees for himself that Nicholas has become an alcoholic.

•	Levin and Nicholas talk. Nicholas attributes his current lifestyle to his failure to receive a key portion of the family estate. Levin invites Nicholas to live with him, but Nicholas refuses, saying that Levin would have to choose between Koznyshev and him.
•	
•	Nicholas drunkenly talks about the stupidity of social institutions; Levin feels awkward because he has said similar things himself.

•	Levin and Masha put Nicholas to bed completely drunk. Masha promises to write Levin, and to try and convince Nicholas to live in the country with Levin.

Thank you @DesdamonasHandkerchief. Still enjoying the summaries!

Thank you Tessisme 😊

Part 1, Chapter 26

•	As soon as he returns to the country, Levin begins to feel much better about himself.
•	His old nurse, who acts as his housekeeper, is there to greet him. Her name is Miss Agatha (a.k.a. Agafya Mikhailovna). Laska, Levin's dog, is also happy to see Levin home.
•	Coming back to a house full of his stuff reveals an inner angst inside Levin, a sense that nothing in his life is changing.
•	
•	He has ordered reforms on his property a hundred times (specifically, he designed a new kiln for drying the buckwheat crop, but it hasn't been built to his specifications and so has burnt the crop). But he feels that his workers undermine his orders. His steward, Kuzma, seems secretly pleased that Levin's new-fangled ideas aren't working out.
•	Levin rapidly becomes embroiled in the details of running his estate. His prize cow has had a calf, which he inspects, an act that draws his attention further into his agricultural business.

Part 1, Chapter 27

•	We get insight into Levin's attitude towards his house: he uses the entire mansion, even though he's the only one living there and he doesn't need all the space.
•	His hope is to one-day recreate the household as it was when his mother was alive. Marriage is the linchpin of the plan. He feels that all happiness in life depends on a successful marriage.
•	His mother's memory is sacred to him. Since she died when he was young, she represents the ideal of traditional womanhood that he so prizes and wants in a wife.
•	
•	He is sad that it seems his house will never have a wife, since Kitty shot him down.
•	Levin and Miss Agatha sit in a small drawing room and have tea as she gossips to him about all that's been going on in the village during his absence from his estate. Levin listens to her with half an ear as he starts to think about all the scientific reforms he wants to carry out on his estate.
•	Laska, the dog, comes and nuzzles Levin. She's excited to have her master back again, and this calms Levin, who starts believing that everything is going to be all right.

I sympathise with Levin here as he questions whether he can change or even whether he should try. That sense of ultimate futility, until you realise you're basically OK as you are. It very much fits with January 'self-improvement' for me...😁

Part 1, Chapter 28

•	The day after the fateful ball where Kitty realizes that Vronsky's affections have turned to Anna, Anna readies herself to leave Moscow for Petersburg.
•	It's clear that something has changed in Anna—Dolly's children, mysteriously, are no longer interested in playing games with her.

•	Dolly goes to question her about this new mood. Anna basically avoids the question.
•	
•	Dolly compliments Anna for having achieved the near impossible: Dolly's reconciliation with Stiva. Dolly further pushes the point, saying that Anna has such a good heart.

•	Anna argues that she does have skeletons in her closet. She confesses to Dolly that she is leaving today because of what happened last night. Anna knows that Kitty had a terrible time at the ball, and that it's Anna's fault.

•	Anna tells Dolly that she's become very fond of Kitty, and would hate for them to become enemies. She's sure that Vronsky feels nothing serious for Anna, and that it will all be forgotten.
•	

Dolly's not a fan of Vronsky marrying Kitty anyway.

•	Oblonsky comes in to take Anna to the train station.

•	Dolly whispers to Anna: "I'll never forget what you did for me." Dolly promises to love Anna as her best friend.

What do we think of Anna in this part?

Well, she didn't behave well at the ball - flirting with Vronsky even though she's married and he is 'paying attention' to her brother's SIL - but I found it quite endearing when she confessed all to Dolly. And she's trying to remove herself from temptation by heading home, away from Vronsky.

She has a real attraction to Vronsky, knows it will hurt Kitty and that she herself is married.

She is trying to out wit all of that by leaving. She is trying to do the right thing. I really like her as a woman so far. She seems decent.

Yes, I'm curious to find out what her husband is like. Is she not very fulfilled in her marriage?