Anna Karenina Summary

The events of the novel take place in the 1870s in Russia, primarily in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as abroad.

The story begins in 1873. At the beginning of the novel, readers learn about a difficult situation in the Oblonsky household: the head of the family has betrayed his wife, the mother of their five children. Stiva Oblonsky has long since stopped loving his wife, Dolly, but he genuinely feels sorry for her. Stiva himself is having lunch at a restaurant with his friend Konstantin Dmitrievich Levin, who has come to Moscow to propose to Kitty Shcherbatskaya, the younger sister of Oblonsky’s wife.

However, Levin lacks confidence because he considers himself too ordinary for a girl like Kitty. Furthermore, Oblonsky tells him that Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky is courting Kitty. Kitty herself cannot decide whom to prefer. She feels comfortable with Levin, but Vronsky inspires feelings she cannot quite understand. Unaware that Vronsky has no intention of marrying her, she rejects Levin, who then returns to his village.

At the railway station, while meeting his mother, who has arrived from St. Petersburg, Vronsky encounters Anna Arkadyevna Karenina. Their meeting takes place under tragic circumstances when a railway watchman is struck by a train.

Anna has traveled from St. Petersburg to Moscow to persuade Dolly to forgive her husband’s infidelity. She succeeds and then returns home. Vronsky also leaves for St. Petersburg, captivated by Anna.

At home, Anna does not feel happy. Her husband, Alexei Karenin, is much older than she is, and she feels only respect for him, not love. Her affection for their eight-year-old son, Seryozha, does not make up for this lack of happiness. The attention she receives from Vronsky, who has fallen in love with her, further unsettles her emotionally. Moreover, people in society begin to notice the relationship between Anna and Vronsky, and Anna’s husband unsuccessfully attempts to stop it from developing.

A year after they meet, Anna becomes Vronsky’s mistress. Vronsky persuades her to leave her husband and go away with him, but Anna cannot bring herself to take that step, despite being pregnant with Vronsky’s child.

During a horse race, Vronsky falls from his horse. Seeing this, Anna expresses her feelings so openly that Karenin takes her away from the races. At home, the couple have a conversation in which Anna tells her husband everything she feels toward him. Karenin leaves for St. Petersburg, leaving Anna at their country house.

Eventually, he decides that they must remain together as husband and wife. If Anna refuses to accept this arrangement, he threatens to take her son away from her. This makes Anna even more hostile toward her husband.

Anna gives birth to a daughter. The delivery is difficult, and believing that she is dying, she begs her husband for forgiveness and renounces Vronsky. Vronsky, in turn, attempts to shoot himself.

A month passes. Vronsky decides to resign from the army and then leaves the country with Anna and their daughter.

Living in the countryside, Levin attempts to introduce reforms that do not always receive the peasants’ approval. When he visits Moscow again, he meets Kitty and realizes that he loves her. He proposes to her, and Kitty accepts. After their wedding, the newlyweds move to the village.

Traveling through Italy with Vronsky, Anna is happy. Vronsky himself, however, does not know what to do with his life after leaving the army. They return to St. Petersburg, where Anna realizes that society has rejected her. Vronsky finds himself in the same position, but Anna fails to recognize this because she is preoccupied with her own emotional struggles.

Gradually, she begins to feel that Vronsky no longer loves her as he once did. Vronsky tries to convince her otherwise, and they leave for his estate. Yet their relationship remains strained. Dolly, who visits Anna, senses the tension between them.

A fierce argument between Anna and Vronsky leads him to return to St. Petersburg to visit his mother. Anna follows him to the railway station, where she remembers the circumstances of their first meeting. She believes she sees a way out of her predicament and throws herself under a train.

Vronsky returns to the army and goes to war against the Turks. Karenin takes Anna and Vronsky’s daughter into his care. Kitty gives birth to Levin’s son. Levin, meanwhile, experiences profound spiritual turmoil as he struggles to find the meaning of life. Only when he realizes that this meaning cannot be fully understood or explained does he attain inner peace.

Anna Karenina Detailed Chapters Summary

The events of the novel take place in the 1870s in Russia, particularly in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as abroad.

Anna Karenina Part One Summary

Chapters I–IV

“ All happy families are alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” A serious crisis develops in the large Oblonsky household: Dolly, the mother of six children, discovers that her husband, Stepan Arkadyevich (Stiva), has been unfaithful. The atmosphere in the house is tense, and the situation seems hopeless.

Chapters V–XVI

Meanwhile, Stiva’s old acquaintance Konstantin Levin arrives in Moscow from the countryside. He intends to propose to Kitty Shcherbatskaya, Dolly’s younger sister, whom he considers perfect. However, his plans are destined to fail: the eighteen-year-old girl is already in love with Count Vronsky, an officer who has no intention of marrying her. Kitty’s parents fully support her choice.

Chapters XVII–XXI

Anna Karenina, Stiva’s sister, arrives from St. Petersburg to reconcile the couple and prevent their marriage from falling apart. Vronsky falls in love with the beautiful young woman at first sight and does everything he can to win her attention.

In a private conversation with Anna, Dolly shares her grief, saying that everything between her and Stiva is over. However, Anna uses all her diplomatic skills to reconcile the Oblonskys and save their family.

Chapters XXII–XXX

At a lavish ball, Anna Karenina makes a tremendous impression. Kitty watches her closely and notices how much Anna enjoys the attention she receives. The young woman realizes that her happiness has been destroyed: Vronsky is seriously captivated by the beautiful woman from St. Petersburg.

The day after the ball, Anna sends her husband a telegram announcing that she will leave Moscow that very day. Dolly thanks her for having done a good deed.

On the train, Anna notices Vronsky, who has followed her. The officer confesses his love. Anna is both frightened and happy by his declaration.

At the railway platform in St. Petersburg, Anna is greeted by her husband, Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin, whom she does not love but respects.

Chapters XXXI–XXXIV

At home, the first person Anna meets is her eight-year-old son, Seryozha, whom she has missed terribly during their separation.

Alexei Alexandrovich holds a high-ranking position in the ministry, and his day is scheduled down to the minute. He loves his wife but is restrained in expressing his feelings.

Having settled in Moscow, Vronsky intends to frequent the social circles where he can meet Karenina.

Anna Karenina Part Two Summary

Chapters I–X

After Vronsky’s humiliating rejection, Kitty suffers a nervous breakdown that leads to the development of tuberculosis. A medical consultation is held at the Shcherbatskys’ home to determine what should be done to restore her strength. The doctors recommend sending her abroad for treatment.

After returning from Moscow, Anna Karenina increasingly avoids her moralizing acquaintances and meets Vronsky more and more often at the home of his cousin, Princess Betsy Tverskaya. Rumors about their attraction are already circulating in society, and Karenin begins to grow irritated.

Alexei Alexandrovich, who considers jealousy an offensive and humiliating emotion, asks his wife not to violate the rules of propriety.

Chapters XI–XVII

Her affair with Vronsky weighs heavily on Anna, who has committed adultery for the first time in her life. She feels guilty.

Levin, having returned to his estate, knows nothing about Kitty or her illness. He immerses himself in managing his property and proves to be a fairly good landowner. Stiva Oblonsky visits him, and Levin learns from him about Kitty’s illness and the Shcherbatskys’ plans. Stiva accuses his friend of indecision and cowardice in the face of his rival.

Chapters XVIII–XXIX

Vronsky’s mother is firmly opposed to her son’s relationship with Anna, which could interfere with his brilliant career. Vronsky, however, is determined. He insists that Anna leave her husband and move in with him. Anna does not want to disgrace her name, knowing that her husband will never grant her a divorce. Nor is she willing to become a mistress.

Vronsky’s great passion is horses. He enters an officers’ steeplechase and purchases a beautiful English mare named Frou-Frou. During the race, Vronsky makes a bad movement, and the horse breaks her back. Seeing her lover fall, Anna openly loses control in front of everyone, thereby revealing her feelings.

Chapters XXX–XXXVI

The Shcherbatskys send Kitty to German mineral springs, where they meet Madame Stahl, a Russian woman who travels in a wheelchair, and her adopted daughter, Varenka.

Kitty quickly becomes friends with Varenka and tells her about her romantic tragedy. Varenka comforts her and encourages her to approach life’s trials more sensibly. Kitty returns to Russia in a calmer state of mind.

Anna Karenina Part Three Summary

Chapters I–XII

Levin immerses himself completely in managing his estate. He even works alongside his laborers and finds satisfaction in strenuous physical labor. Levin realizes that he cannot imagine any woman other than Kitty by his side. He tries to find another meaning in life and decides to reform farming on his own estate.

Stepan Oblonsky sends Dolly and the children to the countryside for the summer to reduce expenses. Levin helps Dolly deal with numerous household and farming problems. Grateful to him, she tells him that he should not lose hope of winning Kitty’s affection. Dolly wants to invite Kitty to the countryside and reconcile the young couple.

Chapters XIII–XVI

News of Anna’s infidelity wounds Alexei Alexandrovich deeply. However, he quickly regains his composure and tries to protect his reputation. Karenin considers it important to maintain inner equilibrium and observe the rules of propriety in order to preserve his standing.

He has no intention of challenging his rival to a duel or initiating legal proceedings. After reflecting on the situation, Alexei Alexandrovich decides to continue living as before, but without respect for his wife.

Chapters XVII–XXIII

Being very careful with money, Vronsky decides to reduce his expenses and avoid accumulating substantial debts. The situation becomes more complicated when he learns that Anna is pregnant. Taking the woman he loves away from her husband would require him to have money and resign from the army, something the ambitious Vronsky finds difficult to do.

During a conversation with Vronsky, Anna realizes that she will not be able to abandon her position in society and leave her son in order to live with her lover.

Chapters XXIV–XXXII

Levin suffers because he is unable to see Kitty Shcherbatskaya, who lives thirty miles away. Her rejection has created a barrier between them, and she continues to ignore Dolly’s persistent attempts to bring them together.

While visiting Sviazhsky, the district marshal of the nobility, Levin shares his thoughts on how farming in Russia should be managed according to Russian principles rather than Western methods.

Anna Karenina Part Four Summary

Chapters I–VIII

The Karenins continue living under the same roof, but they have become strangers to one another. Anna still meets Vronsky, and jealousy increasingly torments her. Alexei Alexandrovich finally loses his patience when he sees his wife’s lover in his own home. He accuses Anna of breaking their agreement and intends to file for divorce and send their son to live with his sister.

The next day, Karenin consults a lawyer about obtaining a divorce, insisting that his son must remain with him. When he learns that Anna’s correspondence with her lover would have to be made public, he abandons the lawsuit and leaves on official business for distant provinces. Passing through Moscow, he tells Oblonsky that their family ties have been broken because of his sister’s infidelity.

Chapters IX–XVI

At a gathering at the Oblonskys’ home, Levin meets Kitty again. He proposes marriage, and she accepts. Her parents are delighted. Preparations for the wedding begin.

Chapters XVII–XXIII

Karenin receives a telegram from his wife asking him to come immediately and forgive her before she dies. Alexei Alexandrovich suspects that it is a deception, but he nevertheless returns home. He learns that Anna has given birth to a girl and that her condition is critical. She begs her husband for forgiveness, and he forgives her.

Karenin confronts Vronsky, leaving the young officer feeling humiliated and guilty. In despair, Vronsky attempts to shoot himself but only wounds himself.

While Anna recovers, Alexei Alexandrovich takes responsibility for the newborn girl, who is named Anya. However, his hopes for family happiness are not fulfilled. After recovering, Anna is afraid of him and cannot look him in the eye.

She comes to hate her husband for his generosity and asks her brother to discuss the possibility of divorce with Karenin. Alexei Alexandrovich suffers but agrees to sign any documents under any conditions. Within a month, he is left alone with Seryozha, while Anna and Vronsky leave for Italy without obtaining a divorce and firmly refusing to pursue one.

Anna Karenina Part Five Summary

Chapters I–VI

Wedding preparations are in full swing. In his happiness, Levin even goes to confession, something he has not done for many years. He admits to the priest that he has lost his faith, and the priest urges him to believe in God, if only for the sake of his future children. Levin finds peace, and with a clear conscience, he marries Kitty. Immediately after the wedding dinner, the newlyweds leave for the countryside.

Chapters VII–XIII

Anna and Vronsky travel throughout Europe. Freed from the constraints of marriage, Anna feels happy, unlike her lover, who is not entirely satisfied. Tired of their dull and idle life in Europe, they return to Russia.

Chapters XIV–XX

The first months of Kitty and Levin’s married life are overshadowed by minor quarrels and jealousy that threaten their happiness. Gradually, however, the couple adjusts to one another, and their life improves. The painful death of Levin’s brother Nikolai leaves a profound mark on both of them. At the same time, Kitty’s health deteriorates: she is pregnant.

Chapters XXI–XXXIII

After Anna’s departure, Alexei Alexandrovich is left alone with his grief. There is no one in the city with whom he can share his feelings.

During this difficult time, Karenin receives substantial support from an old acquaintance, Countess Lydia Ivanovna. She strengthens his spirit and faith in God. The countess takes responsibility for Seryozha and manages household affairs. She is convinced that the boy must be kept away from his mother.

Lydia Ivanovna receives a letter from Anna asking to see her son and responds with a firm refusal. Karenin takes personal responsibility for raising Seryozha, but he cannot find a way to reach the child’s heart.

On Seryozha’s birthday, Anna decides to visit her husband’s house. She is prepared to bribe people and deceive them, but she will see her son at any cost. The boy is overjoyed to see her, but when Karenin appears, Anna runs away.

Anna feels confined and, despite Vronsky’s warnings, goes to the theater. By doing so, she confirms her reputation as a fallen woman.

Anna Karenina Part Six Summary

Chapters I–XV

Throughout the summer, numerous relatives and friends visit the Levin household. Varenka, whom Kitty met during her treatment at the mineral springs, also arrives. Levin’s brother Sergei courts her and intends to propose, but he cannot bring himself to do so.

Chapters XVI–XXIV

Dolly decides to visit Anna despite the changes in her circumstances. She notices that Anna has become more beautiful: she carefully attends to her wardrobe and goes horseback riding. Anna admits to her friend that she is very happy and no longer wants children because she wishes to preserve her beauty for Vronsky. She spends little time with her daughter and takes greater pleasure in managing the household.

During the two days Dolly spends with Anna, she realizes that an enormous gulf has developed between them.

Chapters XXV–XXXII

At first glance, Anna and Vronsky have a wonderful life: wealth and a child. However, as time passes, Vronsky increasingly feels burdened by Anna’s possessive love and her constant desire to control his every action. He goes alone to the provincial elections, partly out of boredom but mainly to assert his right to freedom in his relationship with Anna.

Anna, in turn, tries not to torment her lover with dramatic scenes of jealousy, but she cannot maintain her restraint for long. She writes him a letter claiming that their daughter is ill. Vronsky has no choice but to return to the estate, where he is met by Anna’s overwhelming love.

To escape the terrible thoughts that Vronsky no longer cares for her, Anna begins taking morphine.

Anna Karenina Part Seven Summary

Chapters I–XII

Before Kitty gives birth, the couple moves to Moscow. Levin tries to participate in social life, but he does not enjoy it. One day, he visits Vronsky and Anna, who have also moved from their estate.

Anna tries to make a good impression on Levin, and she succeeds. He admires her beauty, intelligence, education, simplicity, and warmth. When Kitty learns that her husband has visited Anna, she feels deeply unhappy. Levin promises her that he will avoid any further contact with Karenina.

Chapters XIII–XXII

Kitty goes into labor. Levin, who does not believe in God, desperately turns to Him, asking that his beloved wife be spared. Seeing Kitty suffer, he no longer wishes for a child and only wants her pain to end.

Eventually, Kitty gives birth to a boy. Levin, overwhelmed by emotion, can hardly comprehend that his wife is alive and that the creature crying so desperately is his son.

The financial affairs of the Oblonsky family have become complicated. Stiva asks Alexei Alexandrovich to help him obtain a salary increase. Karenin considers his brother-in-law an incompetent employee but nevertheless agrees to put in a good word for him with his superiors.

Oblonsky also asks Karenin to grant Anna a divorce, as she has been living in Moscow for six months. Alexei Alexandrovich promises to consider the request.

Chapters XXIII–XXXI

Anna continues to feel jealous of Vronsky, not because of another woman but because she senses that his love for her is diminishing. She torments him with endless accusations, complaints, and sudden changes of mood, driving him even further away. Increasingly, Anna comes to believe that only death can solve all the problems in her life.

Karenina finally loses her emotional equilibrium. Hoping to find the comfort she needs, she visits Dolly but finds Kitty there. Wanting to hurt her former rival, Anna tells her that Levin has visited her and that she liked him very much.

Determined to punish her lover as painfully as possible for his indifference and to escape her suffering, Anna goes to the railway station and throws herself under a train.

Anna Karenina Part Eight Summary

Chapters I–V

Vronsky is devastated by the death of his beloved. For six weeks, his family watches over him, fearing that he might take his own life in a moment of despair. After recovering from the tragedy, he volunteers to go to Serbia.

Vronsky’s mother cannot speak calmly about the woman who ruined two remarkable people: Karenin and her son.

Alexei Alexandrovich takes responsibility for raising the orphaned Anya.

Chapters VI–XIX

Happy in her role as a mother, Kitty peacefully raises her son, who is named Dmitry. Levin frequently reflects on the purpose of his existence. Having reconsidered his attitude toward faith, he begins to live for his soul.

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