Anna Karenina by graf Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy’s ‘Anna Karenina’, written in the late 19th century, examines themes of love, family, and infidelity within the rigid structure of Russian society. The novel opens with a crisis in the Oblonsky household, where Stepan Arkadyevitch (Stiva) has been unfaithful to his wife, Darya Alexandrovna. Darya, devastated by her husband’s affair with their governess, declares she can no longer stay with him, throwing the family into disarray. Stepan, waking in his study, grapples with guilt and the consequences of his actions, setting the stage for the emotional and moral struggles that underpin the story. Through the lens of Stepan and Darya’s strained marriage, Tolstoy introduces the broader exploration of relationships and societal expectations that will unfold throughout the novel, particularly in the central narrative of Anna Karenina herself. This opening provides a compelling glimpse into the personal and social dilemmas that define the intricately woven tale.