Anna Karenina

Book excerpt: Leo Tolstoy (9th september 1829-20th November 1910), the author, was a Russian writer and regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time. He also wrote short storys, plays, essays. His renowned works are 'War and Peace', 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' and so on. His fiction includes dozens of short stories and several novellas (Family Happiness, After the Ball, Hadji Murad). This novel is divided into eight parts and major characters are more than a dozen. This novel is based on the themes of betrayal, faith, marriage, family, desire, rural life, urban life etc. The book is very interesting and focuses on an extramarital affair between Anna and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky. The story takes place against the backdrop of the liberal reforms which were initiated by the emperor of Russia. In the start, the character named, Prince Stepan has been unfaithful to his wife, Princess Darya (Dolly). Dolly has come to know about her husband's affair with family governess. His sister Anna comes in a bid to calm the situation. But she herself engages with Alexei Vronsky. The author has very successfully narrated this family drama type situation, seems related to the societal systems, which is alarming. Also it concludes that humans makes mistakes.