Anna Karenina

"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
- Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina (1878) by Leo Tolstoy deals with subjects of family, betrayal, faith, marriage, desire, Imperial Russian society, and rural vs. city life. Anna, the protagonist, is married to a distinguished official in St. Petersburg and moves in the highest circles of Russian Society with the reputation of a charming woman. Anna's life, however, takes an interesting turn when she encounters a dashing cavalry officer Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky at a party and an extramarital affair begins between the two. The affair scandalizes the social circles of St. Petersburg and forces the young lovers to flee for Italy in a search for happiness. Their lives further unravel as they return to Russia and the complexities in their lives and the lives of people around them increases.

Leo Tolstoy (born September 9, 1828, in Yasnaya Polyana, Russia, and died November 20, 1910) is considered one of the most significant writers in world literature. He is renowned for his works, particularly War and Peace and Anna Karenina, which are seen as pillars of realist fiction. Tolstoy's works are influential in both the literary world and beyond, with themes of morality, spirituality, and social justice.
In his later years, Tolstoy underwent a spiritual crisis and distanced himself from the Russian Orthodox Church, advocating for a life of simplicity, nonviolence, and a rejection of materialism, which influenced both his writing and his lifestyle. His work has inspired a broad range of thinkers and writers, including Fyodor Dostoevsky and Alexander Pushkin.
Tolstoy married Sophia Tolstaya in 1862, and they had several children. Despite his personal and family struggles, Tolstoy's legacy endures as a deeply influential figure in literature, philosophy, and social thought.