Anna Karenina Summary
Description
Here you will find a Anna Karenina summary (Leo Tolstoy's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters Anna Karenina Summary Overview
A household in Moscow is in turmoil due to infidelity. Dolly has discovered her husband, Stiva, was unfaithful with the former nanny of their children, and is considering leaving him. Stiva's sister, Anna, married to a government official from St. Petersburg, comes to mediate between the couple. In the meantime, Dolly's younger sister, Kitty, is being pursued by two men - Konstantin Levin, a socially awkward landowner, and Alexei Vronsky, a charismatic military officer. Kitty rejects Levin for Vronsky, but the latter falls for Anna, leaving Kitty heartbroken and ill. Levin retreats to his country estate, while Anna goes home, contemplating her feelings for Vronsky, but initially dismissing them. Vronsky follows Anna home, and their attraction escalates as Anna starts socializing with Vronsky's progressive cousin and her circle. At a social gathering, Anna urges Vronsky to seek Kitty's forgiveness, to which he confesses his love for Anna instead. Anna's husband, Karenin, suspects an affair, but Anna refutes his suspicions. However, after Vronsky injures his horse in a race, Anna confesses her affair and her love for Vronsky to Karenin. Meanwhile, Kitty recovers in a German spa, where she encounters Levin's ailing brother, Nikolai. Levin, criticized by his half-brother for resigning from his local administrative council post, contemplates reigniting his relationship with Kitty, with whom he eventually gets engaged and marries. Despite the turmoil, Karenin rejects Anna's plea for divorce, insisting they maintain their public facade. Anna retreats to their country home, where her relationship with Vronsky becomes strained after she reveals her pregnancy. Karenin finally agrees to divorce after catching Vronsky at his country home, but the decision remains in the hands of a resentful Anna, who doesn't request the divorce. She and Vronsky move to Italy, leading a purposeless life, and upon their return to Russia are shunned by society. Anna, trapped and scorned, grows jealous of Vronsky's freedom. Meanwhile, Levin's married life unfolds with its surprises, including a lack of freedom he hadn’t anticipated. Levin and Kitty start a family, while Anna's life takes a tragic turn when she throws herself under a train. Despite the tragedy, Levin finds comfort and meaning in faith, love for his family, and the good he can put into his life.
part 1
There's turmoil in the Oblonsky family home in Moscow due to Stiva Oblonsky's affair with their children's ex-governess. Stiva is upset but not overly guilty. His wife Dolly is heartbroken and will not leave her room. The staff suggest he apologize to Dolly, and he eventually does, pleading with her to remember their many years of marriage. Dolly, however, sees him as repugnant and a stranger. Stiva heads to his office where he works a respectable job. He is visited by an old friend, Konstantin Levin, who used to work on his town's administrative board but recently quit. Levin hints at an important issue to discuss, hinting at his love for Kitty, Stiva’s sister-in-law. While in the city, Levin stays with his half-brother, Koznyshev, who discourages him from visiting their chronically ill brother, Nikolai. Levin, however, meets Kitty at the skating rink, and their encounter ends awkwardly after Levin confesses his reliance on her. At dinner, Levin admits to Stiva his love for Kitty. Stiva warns him of competing suitor, an officer named Alexei Vronsky, and lightly brushes off Levin’s condemnation of his infidelity. Kitty’s mother, Princess Shcherbatskaya, considers both Vronsky and Levin as potential husbands for Kitty, but leans towards Vronsky. She acknowledges that young women of their class now choose their husbands instead of being matched by their parents. That night, Levin proposes to Kitty, but she declines, still in love with Vronsky. Kitty’s father is unhappy with this, as he prefers Levin. The next day, Vronsky goes to welcome his mother at the train station. There, he meets Stiva and mentions his encounter with Levin. He believes Kitty could do better. At the station, Vronsky meets his mother and Stiva's sister, Anna Karenina, just as a station worker is run over by a train, which Anna views as a bad sign. Anna goes to Stiva’s home and meets the grief-stricken Dolly. She sympathizes with Dolly but doesn't try to console her, instead claiming Stiva is remorseful. Dolly feels better after their chat. Later, Kitty visits and Anna learns of her interest in Vronsky. At a ball, Vronsky ignores Kitty for Anna, leaving Kitty devastated. Meanwhile, Levin visits his brother Nikolai and meets his live-in girlfriend, Marya Nikolaevna, whom Nikolai saved from a brothel. Levin finds his brother's health deteriorating and leaves after promising to help if needed. He returns to his rural home, thankful for its peacefulness. Back at the Oblonsky house, Anna and Dolly have dinner. Anna is shocked she danced with Vronsky but believes he'll continue pursuing Kitty. Anna leaves for St. Petersburg to escape Vronsky, but is unsure of her identity. During a train stop, she spots Vronsky, who has followed her. In St. Petersburg, Anna is met by her husband, Karenin, at the station. Vronsky observes their interaction and discerns Anna doesn't love her husband. Back home, Anna tries to shake off her worries about her interaction with Vronsky. Meanwhile, Vronsky, who's also in St. Petersburg, mingles with friends and hopes to run into Anna.
part 2
Concerns rise for Kitty's health after being slighted by Vronsky at a ball. Her family consults doctors, but her sister Dolly attributes her decline to heartbreak. Dolly realizes Kitty turned down Levin for the love of Vronsky, only to be rejected by him later. Anna, now associating with Vronsky’s cousin Betsy Tverskoy, becomes the subject of gossip about an alleged affair with Vronsky. Despite some defending her, others criticize her ruthlessly. At Betsy's, Anna pleads with Vronsky to end their relationship and seek Kitty's forgiveness. Despite her pleas, Vronsky insists that he and Anna can be happy together. Anna's husband, Karenin, suspects an affair but struggles to confront it. When Anna comes home, Karenin warns her of rumors. She dismisses it lightly, and their conversation ends unresolved. The story moves forward to reveal that Anna and Vronsky have consummated their affair. Anna is tormented by her own guilt yet continues to dream about both men. Levin, still nursing his wounds from Kitty's rejection, immerses himself in farming and takes care of his ailing brother, Nikolai. When his friend Stiva visits, Levin prods him for news about Kitty, and feels a strange sense of satisfaction when he learns she’s unwell. In the meantime, Vronsky carries on his regiment duties while his love for Anna becomes public knowledge. He buys a new horse named Frou-Frou for an upcoming race. Anna reveals to him that she’s pregnant and he asks her to leave Karenin to be with him. Despite her love for Vronsky, Anna resists leaving because of her son. Vronsky's horse falls and breaks its back during the race, which both Anna and Karenin observe. Anna’s emotional reaction to Vronsky's fall outs her affair to her husband. Karenin insists they maintain a facade of a functional marriage until a solution is found. Meanwhile, Kitty and her family are at a German spa for her recovery. There, she befriends a girl named Varenka and is inspired by her kindness and charity. Kitty's good intentions go awry when she accidentally upsets a local painter's wife. Her father's arrival and his dismissal of a revered local woman disillusion Kitty, causing her to see the world in a new light.
part 3
Levin's sibling, Sergei Koznyshev, retreats from his scholarly pursuits and visits Levin in the countryside. They have contrasting views about rural life, with Koznyshev perceiving it as leisurely and Levin recognizing its laborious nature. They also disagree on their attitudes towards the peasants. Koznyshev idealizes the peasantry, while Levin's experience makes him critical. On their countryside walks, Koznyshev rhapsodizes about the beauty of nature. They discuss local governance and the ineffective utilization of landowner taxes, critiquing the lack of community services. Koznyshev scolds Levin for leaving local politics where he could have made a positive difference. Levin justifies his withdrawal by expressing the futility of bureaucracy. The next day, Levin labors on his farm, finding solace in the hard work, and receives a letter from Dolly. Dolly has relocated to the countryside to cut living costs, finding rural life challenging. Only with the help of her nanny, Matryona, she manages to establish a decent household. When Levin visits, Dolly brings up the topic of Kitty, unaware of Levin’s rejected marriage proposal. She insists that Kitty is suffering more than Levin, but Levin dismisses any possibility of future relations with Kitty. Levin later discovers that his peasants have cheated him out of a substantial part of his income. Despite this aggravation, Levin feels content in the countryside and resigned to bachelorhood. However, a chance sighting of Kitty revives his love for her. In the city, Karenin continues his routine life despite Anna's confession of adultery. He secretly resents Anna and distances himself from their son, Seryozha. He contemplates challenging Vronsky to a duel but dismisses the idea out of fear. Instead, he decides to keep Anna bound in marriage as punishment for her infidelity and communicates this plan to her in a letter. Meanwhile, Anna is taken aback by Karenin's refusal to divorce, frustrated at the prospect of prolonging a deceitful life with him. She drafts a letter expressing her intention to leave but does not send it. Vronsky maintains his finances despite rumors of his wealth. The entry of Anna into his life has disrupted his strict code of conduct. Upon learning of Anna's pregnancy, he contemplates resigning from his military career but is hesitant to abandon his professional aspirations. Vronsky meets Anna at her country house, where she tells him about her disclosure to Karenin. Vronsky is initially fearful of a duel but is left uncertain after reading Karenin's letter. He urges Anna to leave Seryozha and seek a divorce, but she breaks down, expressing pride rather than humiliation. Back in the city, Karenin delivers a successful speech to the relocation commission. Anna confronts Karenin, accepting her fault and expressing her inability to change. Karenin insists that Vronsky should never visit their home again, and they part ways. Levin is disillusioned with farm life and struggles to implement new farming techniques. Dolly tries to arrange a meeting between Levin and Kitty but fails. Tired of his unrequited love for Kitty, Levin decides to visit his far-off friend, Sviyazhsky. He is impressed by a prosperous peasant's farming success and his family's health, which renews his hope for peasant cooperation. At Sviyazhsky's house, Levin faces an attempted matchmaking with Sviyazhsky's sister-in-law. He avoids her, believing he could only marry Kitty. Sviyazhsky and his guests reminisce about the serfdom era and discuss the need for a more scientific approach to farming. Levin, however, believes that treating peasants as partners in farming could be a better solution. As Levin plans a European farm tour to study his new theory, his terminally ill brother Nikolai visits. Nikolai's deteriorating health and eventual death make Levin contemplate his mortality. Despite his gloomy thoughts, Levin acknowledges the inevitability of life's progression.
part 4
The Karenins, although sharing a residence, live separately to avoid sparking rumors amongst their servants. Karenin regularly sees Anna but no longer shares meals with her. Both yearn for an end to their unendurable circumstance. Vronsky spends a lackluster week showing a foreign guest around, seeking authentic Russian experiences. The foreigner's persona mirrors Vronsky's, causing Vronsky distress. He receives an urgent note from Anna, instructing him to meet at her house while Karenin is away. However, Karenin returns earlier than expected and they cross paths. Anna seems different, both in temperament and appearance, which saddens Vronsky. An infuriated Anna accuses Karenin of being emotionless and cowardly, stating she would've murdered a spouse like herself. When Vronsky asks about her pregnancy, Anna predicts her impending death during childbirth, referencing a foreboding dream she had. Following his encounter with Vronsky, Karenin spends a restless night, angered by Anna's disobedience. He informs her about his divorce plans and confiscates her love letters from Vronsky. Although begging to keep custody of their son Seryozha, Karenin declines. Karenin approaches a divorce lawyer, expressing his desire for divorce due to Anna's infidelity. The lawyer cautions him about the complexities of such cases and asks for autonomy to handle the divorce, which Karenin permits. After a professional setback, Karenin travels to the provinces to redeem his reputation. He meets Stiva and Dolly, who invite him to a dinner party. Despite his initial refusal, he later attends. The party is a success, featuring discussions on education and women's rights. At the party, Karenin leaves abruptly after a comment from a guest offends him. He shares his divorce plans with Dolly, who is concerned about Anna's future. Levin and Kitty, who still harbor feelings for each other, connect at the party. Levin proposes again and Kitty accepts. Despite revealing his agnostic beliefs and past indiscretions, Kitty forgives him. Bad news continues for Karenin as he is overlooked for a coveted government post. He receives word of Anna's serious illness and rushes to her side. Anna, believing she is dying, pleads for Karenin's forgiveness for herself and Vronsky, which he grants. Vronsky, torn by guilt, attempts suicide but survives. Karenin is surprised by his genuine forgiveness towards Anna and develops affection for their newborn daughter. Karenin, willing to continue tolerating Anna's affair, emphasizes the importance of maintaining the family's dignity. Stiva visits, and Anna confesses her deep-seated resentment for Karenin. Stiva suggests divorce as the only solution. Karenin, willing to bear the public disgrace himself, proposes this option to Anna. Vronsky, learning about the divorce, visits Anna. They confess their love for each other. Overwhelmed by Karenin's generosity, Anna dismisses the divorce plans. Vronsky resigns from his position, and they embark on a journey abroad.
part 5
As Levin and Kitty approach their wedding day, Levin is almost deliriously happy. Stiva reminds Levin about his need for confession before the wedding. During confession, Levin admits his doubts about God's existence, prompting the priest to warn him about his future children's faith. On his bachelor party, Levin's friends question his readiness to surrender his freedom for marriage. This leads to a brief quarrel between Kitty and Levin, but they soon reconcile. The wedding guests await Levin's arrival at the church with growing impatience due to a wardrobe mishap delaying him. Once he arrives, the wedding takes place, with Kitty overwhelmed with love and Levin moved to tears. Post-wedding, the couple head to Levin's countryside home. Meanwhile, Anna and Vronsky settle in Italy, renting a palazzo. They encounter Golenishchev, an old school friend of Vronsky, who gets along well with Anna. Vronsky takes up painting and starts working on a portrait of Anna. They also visit a local Russian painter, Mikhailov, hiring him to paint a portrait of Anna. Levin adjusts to marriage, initially misunderstanding Kitty's aspirations beyond being loved. They have occasional arguments, one stemming from Levin being late home, which causes Kitty to doubt his loyalty. Levin works on his book about the Russian agricultural system and is disappointed by its slow progress. Kitty accompanies Levin on his visit to his dying brother Nikolai, despite Levin's initial reluctance. Nikolai is on his deathbed when they arrive. Despite Levin's discomfort, Kitty springs to action, offering comfort to Nikolai. After a few days, Nikolai passes away. It's also revealed that Kitty is pregnant. Karenin struggles to understand his miserable life. He's asked to pay Anna's overdue bills, which almost breaks him. His career is also stagnant. Karenin's friend, Lydia Ivanovna, offers to manage his household and urges him to find solace in religion. Anna returns to St. Petersburg, hoping to see her son, Seryozha on his birthday. Despite society's disapproval, Anna visits Seryozha on his birthday. She encounters Karenin while leaving and doesn't get to give Seryozha his toys. Back at the hotel, Anna blames Vronsky for her loneliness. She defies societal norms again by attending the opera. She is humiliated there and returns home furious. Assured by Vronsky's love, they decide to leave for the countryside.
part 6
During summer, Dolly relocated to Levin and Kitty's place due to her estate's poor condition. She lived with them along with Kitty's friend Varenka and Levin's half-brother Sergei, who everyone admired for his fame. Dolly and Kitty consider the idea of pairing Sergei with Varenka, but Levin doubts the match, explaining that Sergei's spiritual lifestyle differs from Varenka's earthly one. He admits envying Sergei for his sense of duty. When questioned by Kitty about his own happiness, Levin discusses his work struggles but insists he's overall content. Sergei and Varenka take quite a liking to each other. Sergei contemplates proposing during a mushroom picking outing. However, he backs out at the last moment to honor a past lover's memory. This incident makes them realize marriage won't be in their future. Stiva visits with Veslovsky, who has met Anna. Dolly decides to visit Anna, despite Kitty's hesitations. Veslovsky's flirtatiousness toward Kitty sparks Levin's jealousy, causing a fight between them. Levin, later feeling guilty, promises to make Veslovsky feel welcomed during their hunting trip. Although initially finding Veslovsky amusing, Levin soon gets irritated by his clumsiness and bad hunting skills. The men later engage in a conversation about a wealthy neighbor who made his fortune through dubious financial means. Stiva teases Levin for inheriting his wealth, which annoys Levin. The day ends with Levin hunting alone, after which he's disappointed to find Stiva and Veslovsky have eaten all the food. A conversation with Veslovsky prompts an argument between Levin and Kitty, which gets resolved quickly. However, Veslovsky's continued flirtation with Kitty leads to Levin asking him to leave. Dolly sticks to her decision of visiting Anna, borrowing horses from Levin for the journey. On her way, she meets Anna, Veslovsky, Princess Oblonskaya, and Sviyazhsky. She's taken aback by Anna's audacious horse riding, a behavior deemed inappropriate for ladies. Anna talks about Vronsky's estate management and his plans of building a hospital. At Anna's house, Dolly feels conscious about her plain clothes in contrast to Anna's luxurious surroundings. She meets Anna's daughter and feels disturbed by Anna's lack of knowledge on child-rearing. Dolly's envy for Anna's free life is apparent, and Vronsky privately requests her help in convincing Anna to divorce Karenin. After dinner, the group discusses American efficiency, government corruption, and the zemstvo system. Dolly defends Levin's character when Vronsky disregards his lack of zemstvo contribution. Later, Dolly is irritated by Veslovsky's flirting with Anna. Despite Dolly's suggestion of divorcing Karenin for her children's sake, Anna reveals she can't have any more children. Anna refuses to plead to Karenin for a divorce. Instead of staying for several days, Dolly decides to head back home the next day. When Vronsky announces he must leave for Kashin for elections, Anna seems unnaturally calm. Levin, now in Moscow due to Kitty's pregnancy, also attends the elections. The old marshal is replaced by a younger candidate. However, Levin is disheartened by the bureaucratic processes and yearns to escape the elections. Nevedovsky, a spiteful nobleman, is elected as the new marshal. Meanwhile, Anna feels trapped by her lack of freedom. When Vronsky returns, she insists on never being separated from him again and agrees to write to Karenin for a divorce.
part 7
In the city, Levin and Kitty anticipate their baby's arrival. Levin is uncomfortable in the city and finds it too expensive, but Kitty stays home due to her pregnancy. After a chance encounter with Vronsky, Kitty is proud of her control over lingering feelings for him. Levin spends time with scholars Katavasov and Metrov, discussing his book about Russian farming. He becomes frustrated with their lack of understanding of the cultural aspects of agriculture. After visiting Kitty's brother-in-law, Lvov, Levin attends a concert and a reception. Despite his initial reservations, he finds himself enjoying the club's atmosphere and even begins to like Vronsky. Stiva proposes a surprise visit to Anna, who lives a lonely life in Moscow. Levin is taken by Anna's intelligence and grace. He questions Anna's selective generosity and she insists that it's driven by love. Before leaving, Anna requests that Levin not ask Kitty to forgive her. Levin returns home and tells Kitty about his meeting with Anna, which leads to a quarrel. Meanwhile, Anna feels neglected by Vronsky, hinting at an impending disaster in their relationship. As Kitty goes into labor, Levin, despite his anxieties, adapts to the city life. The birth of his son, though initially shocking, eventually fills him with joy. Stiva, struggling financially, seeks a job at a railroad commission. He also continues discussions for Anna's divorce with Karenin, who seems disinterested in Anna's life and more focused on his faith. The relationship between Anna and Vronsky becomes strained. Anna's jealousy and insecurity escalate into arguments. When she learns that her divorce will not be granted, she decides to move to the country with Vronsky. Their relationship deteriorates further as Anna becomes more miserable and quarrelsome. Believing their relationship is over, Anna falls into despair. After Vronsky departs, Anna regrets her actions and sends him an apologetic message. When he doesn't respond promptly, Anna visits Dolly for a final farewell. Feeling slighted by Vronsky's delayed response to her message, Anna decides to confront him at the train station. Overwhelmed by despair and confusion, Anna throws herself under an oncoming train, ending her life.
part 8
After Anna's death, two months go by. Sergei Koznyshev's book, which took him six years to finish, receives little attention upon its release. He diverts his disappointment by concentrating on the liberation of Serbians and other Slavs from the Turkish rule, a mission that has captivated the entire Russian population. Sergei and Katavasov join a group of Russian volunteers headed to occupied Serbia to aid the Slavs. Vronsky, who is seen among the volunteers, has even funded a squadron. Sergei encounters Vronsky's mother, who accompanies her son and insults the late Anna. She reveals that Karenin now has custody of Anna’s daughter. Vronsky himself, at this point, is prepared to give up his life for the Slavic cause, seeing no more value in his existence. Sergei and Katavasov pay a visit to Levin’s estate. Kitty, while nursing their son Mitya and waiting for Levin, is pleased to see the visitors, hoping they might alleviate Levin’s melancholy. Levin has been consumed by philosophical inquiries since becoming a husband and father, in search of life's purpose. However, when he stops overthinking and just lives, he feels content. On the day of Sergei's arrival, Levin is disturbed by thoughts of his workers’ mortality. A discussion with a peasant, Fyodor, about an innkeeper’s lifestyle sparks a revelation in Levin. Fyodor's perspective helps Levin understand that living for God and the betterment of others is the purpose of life. He feels liberated from the illusions of life and realizes that living to fulfill one’s own desires is immature. Lying under the open sky, Levin is grateful for his newfound faith and vows to keep disagreements from creating rifts between him and others. However, he soon finds himself in an argument with his driver. Back home, after sharing the news of Vronsky's departure, he takes everyone out for a picnic. During a conversation about the Slavic cause, Levin disagrees with the war and doubts the complete support of the Russian people. But, he feels outwitted when debating with Sergei and Katavasov. A sudden thunderstorm disrupts the picnic. When Levin realizes that Kitty and Mitya are not safe inside the house, but still in the woods, he fears the worst. Upon finding them safe, his affection for his son deepens. Levin experiences another wave of faith, deciding to keep his spiritual awakening to himself since he views faith as a personal matter. He concludes that the essence of life is the goodness one infuses into it.
