Anna Karenina (Wordsworth Classics)

Item arrived quite earlier as was described by the seller. It was exactly as was described by the seller. I liked all over packaging of the book. As I've not read it yet so won't be able to share my experience of reading this book but the product was all okay from outside.

i found this one of the best book i ever read, other books to kill a mocking bird, the kite runner area great books.Anna karenina must read book

My Initial ThoughtsIt has been a great read, it dives in the sociological aspects of romance, betrayal in a lifelike non dramatizing style. The translation, even though it was acclaimed by Tolstoy as the most accurate, was very dry at times. It lost it's lustre in pursuit of accuracy.ThemeThe main theme here according to me is about, relationships and their impact on an individual and their family, sociologically and also personally. It has a religious incline, as it tries to justify it using,weak arguments against it. Even though the heroine is Anna, whose storyline focuses in Betrayal, Jealousy, Affairs etc, The secondary storyline has a very contradicting plot of true love and devotion, where in both cases Tolstoy successfully and very subtly contrasts between how we dream and think of relationships and how they really are in real life.A Summery without Much SpoilersThe heroine, anna falls for the fiance of her brother's wife's sister,Katherine, despite being already married. another Character Levin, who seeks to marry Katherine. If I tell more there will be major spoilers. But think what will happen? Btw, Levin is the best friend of Katherine's brother in law and Anna's brother, Steve Oblonsky, who has been very worried about his marriage because of his affair with another women.My Thoughts on the writing styleaah, its just awesome. The subtly and the non dramatic-ness of Tolstoy's writing is genius. The best part of his writing is the life like characters, the character are so realistic that it doesn't feel weird when we read their dialogues or theirs choices and decisions, it feels the most natural and humane way of doing, telling or saying for that character. The choices and twists doesn't feels theatrical, there is always a sense of life, without a grand stage or a bright spotlight or a orchestra for background music, it is just plain simple happening in this planet, dusty, sandy, rough and mundane and it is the beauty of the Mundane that transcends Tolstoy from other writers that I have read. Like take Ayn Rand, when I progress through the plot, sometimes it feels like this plot, this twist or even this character seems unreal somehow. Every person in life feels a creation of the universe, diverse, variant, unified, integrated, dignified with some sense of depth, malice, good will, familiarity, hostility, kindness but Rand's characters are just plain, it feels as if they are creation of men, unidimensional unlike Tolstoy, who's character feels extremely multitudinous and like a creation of the universe. One of the many things that helps Tolstoy achieve that is his characters's internal monologues, they are such realistic, we often do not realize how much we talk to ourselves, but after reading Tolstoy it becomes apparent and very distinctive, now whenever I have one of those internal monologues, I'm always reminded of him.My opinions of story and plotThe story is narrated by a third person omnipresent and omniscient narrator. Even though the plot is a very simple one about an affair, as most Russian classics and the one I have read about it ventures into a lot of sub-plots or micro-plots about all the related characters in the story. I think the plot is good, Tolstoy gives a very detailed observation into Russian urban culture of the late 19th century and also of the Russian country side of the same period. The two most prominent plots of the story are that of Anna Karenina and her lover, Vronsky and Constantine Levin and Katherine or Kitty and apart from those one of the major chunk of the story is devoted to Agriculture in 19th century Russia, Levin being a farm owner from the countryside, brings in with him these detail along with criticism of blindly believing foreign methods are better, may it be methods for Agriculture or Socio-Economic philosophies. Tolstoy through Levin also criticizes rural Russia's administration system often and sometimes of it's education system. Levin is used as a means to show that we are believer at the core even if we try and convince ourselves and others that we are not : Levin calls himself, "Agnostic" and a non believer and he maintains his standing as so up until almost the ending of the novel, where he sub consciously prays to God, when his wife was in labour and also in the philosophical epilogue of the novel, where Levin introspects and finds a true philosophy for himself.What makes sense in the book.What makes sense is that this book is intricate and detailed observations into sociological behaviours of homo sapiens, a detailed account into the mechanisms of jealousy and limitations of passionate love. It makes tremendous sense on what the book ventures to unveil of the human nature, if we put off those rose tinted glasses of romance and love.what doesn't makes any sense in the book (if any)Sometimes western Societies shocks me, in some parts of the book it is actually suggested that loving a married woman is an act of bravery and kinda a heroic act. I actually don't have any how idea how that makes sense.Tolstoy's Narrative Style:Tolstoy's narrative style is known for its meticulous attention to detail. He captures the Russian landscape, cultural intricacies, and the inner thoughts of his characters with precision. This immersive style transports readers to the world of the novel, providing a vivid and lifelike experience. It's not just a love story; it's a meticulous portrayal of Russian society in the 19th century, offering a window into the customs and beliefs of the time.Tolstoy's prose is both poetic and philosophical, with long passages of introspection and rumination. His writing is known for its vivid and lifelike descriptions, particularly of the Russian landscape and culture. The novel's rich tapestry of settings, from the opulent drawing rooms of high society to the rustic landscapes of the countryside, contributes to the story's immersive quality.Patriarchal Bias in the Portrayal of Anna:The portrayal of Anna Karenina in the novel has been a subject of extensive debate and analysis. While Tolstoy's work is celebrated for its intricate character development, there are valid arguments that his portrayal of Anna reflects patriarchal biases prevalent in the society of his time.Anna's character grapples with societal expectations, and her actions challenge conventional norms. Her affair with Vronsky and her eventual downfall are depicted as consequences of her deviation from the expected path for a married woman. Her emotional struggles and ultimate fate can be seen as a commentary on the limitations and consequences faced by women who defied the norms of 19th-century Russian society.Critics argue that Tolstoy's portrayal of Anna can be interpreted as judgmental. Her character is often depicted as emotionally unstable, and her actions are linked to her gender and her inability to conform to societal expectations. Her tragic end is viewed by some as a punitive measure for her transgressions, and this could be seen as a reflection of patriarchal biases in Tolstoy's time.On the other hand, it's important to consider the complexity of Tolstoy's work. While Anna's character faces societal consequences, her portrayal also highlights the oppressive nature of the patriarchal society in which she lives. Her struggles and her eventual tragedy serve as a critique of the society that restricts women's agency and imposes rigid gender roles. Tolstoy's depiction of Anna can be viewed as a way to shed light on the injustices women faced in 19th-century Russia.In conclusion, Tolstoy's writing style in "Anna Karenina" is characterized by its depth, realism, and philosophical musings. As for the portrayal of Anna, it's a multifaceted issue. While some aspects of her character may reflect patriarchal biases, others argue that Tolstoy's depiction serves as a critique of the societal norms and limitations imposed on women in his time. Ultimately, the interpretation of Anna's character in the context of patriarchal bias is a matter of perspective and debate among scholars and readers.My final thoughts and a philosophical interpretation of the book according to meFinally I really like the book, although sometimes it becomes a bit odd for me to relate to Russian Aristocracy and culture and social norms. Main vendor of philosophy in this book is Levin and he is my favourite character in the book. I find it hard to sympathise with Anna, maybe because I'm a guy or maybe I do not like her much but yeah that's that.

Compact size. Quality of pages is excellent. Appropriate font. Font doesn't fade anywhere- all pages are printed well. This book carries the Louise and Aylmer Maude (1918) translation. The book is bound, typeset and printed in Great Britain.

It's a review of the Everyman's Library Edition of Anna Karenina. I am satisfied with the product. Can't wait to read it.

I got what I expected. Same as shown in the picture

Print size is so small and some pages have double print.... it’s not great but it’s readable

Book arrived in good form.... Fresh books always smells good. Full points for the hardcopy.

Sad at times, joyous at others, but always intriguing.

Such a wonderful book. Tolstoy tells the story of the three families such a way that by the end of the story, you will feel like you truly know the characters. The writing is fantastic, at times Tolstoy really manages to capture the feeling of life in his vibrant descriptions. I genuinely feel like this is his best work, not “War and Peace” (don’t get me wrong, that is a fantastic book as well, but I love Anna K a lot more).Honestly, I can’t praise this book enough. The story is so immersive, there are some very interesting metaphors in there as well, and in the final pages, it gets quite philosophical. Still, the writing style is in my opinion quite understandable to the average reader (my first time reading this was at age 14, and I got through it just fine even though I was at a fairly average reading level and mostly read fantasy books).

Loved characters, lengthy descriptions, picture of society and how the distinctions between classes were depicted.Disliked trying to keep up with all of the characters!Needs a second read, but is intense so not straight away!

This is such a wonderful book. Now I see why Tolstoy is regarded as one of the greats. His ability to paint vivid imagery and communicate emotions in the minds and hearts of the reader is uncanny.My only bitterness is the end of Anna!Overall, brilliant work.

El libro llegó con la pasta blanda maltratada, la pintura se está descarapelando y se ve maltratado.