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.

There was hardly a mention of her in part eight apart from Old Mother Vronsky's spiteful grumbling.

I thought that was quite strange, really! I definitely expected more reaction from our 'main cast' and that was sorely lacking! What did ole Karenin feel? How about her poor little boy? I think more of that sorry of thing and less of Levin navel-gazing would've finished the book of a treat..

Yes that was definitely a low point of this read (says me who skim-read the last section).

Overall this readalong has been a pleasure, thanks again to @DesdamonasHandkerchief and @StColumbofNavron for facilitating, appreciate it

Thanks for all the thanks guys.
For those doing it enjoy your Madame Bovary read along.
Hopefully see you on other threads/another read along in the future x

I was not reading along and it's a wonderful book, but I can't help thinking why didn't she give her head a wobble?

Hello, I came across this thread late but have read and loved W&P and AK so have read both of the read along threads start to finish, and thoroughly enjoyed them. Thank you so much to @StColumbofNavron@DesdamonasHandkerchief and everyone for the content. I will be looking for other readalongs with you in real time!

When I read AK I thought her downfall was partly structural because of society at the time - that definitely plays a part - but also brought on herself. There’s an interesting turning point in the middle of the book where she survives the crisis of childbirth and is forgiven by Karenein and he is even willing to give her a divorce. We don’t often see this in 19thC novels and Tolstoy really explored the So what happens now? She and Vronsky skip off to Italy and it all goes downhill from there. I think there are two reasons - the first, a really serious one, that she never gets over the loss of Seroyzha. The second, because she never develops a stable, secure sense of self from which to build a new life. Vronsky offers her the hospital on his estate to run but she can’t stick to anything. If she had kept her head down, turned herself to an “occupation” and waited, she might eventually have reconciled with her son when he was older, but she spirals into dependence (on Vronsky and morphine). She’s got no spiritual or mental core on which to draw. Hence the contrast with Levin I suppose who does find his way. TLDR it’s not just the patriarchy it’s her character too.

Thank you for the kind words @MotherOfCatBoy.
You've read both threads - that's some dedication right there 💪.
I agree with your comments AK is a tragic and flawed character.

I was in the Footnotes & Tangents W&P group last year and got a tad obsessed.. 🤣

Thanks for this, I agree, Anna has some agency and the loss of Seryozha is a huge blow.

Some of the group went on to read Madame Bovary as a companion piece and are now reading Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell. Feel free to join us.