Summary of the novel "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina and
her husband Aleksey.
Painter M. Scheglov

The novel "Anna Karenina" is an outstanding work of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. 

This article presents a summary of the novel "Anna Karenina": a brief retelling, an abbreviated version of the novel. 

Summary of the novel "Anna Karenina" by Tolstoy

The main character of the novel is Anna Karenina, a young woman from the high society of St. Petersburg. Anna has been married for 8 years to a wealthy official, Alexei Karenin, who is 20 years older than her. The couple are raising their 8-year-old son Serezha. 

One day Anna meets a young rich officer, Count Alexei Vronsky. Anna and Vronsky like each other and soon begin to secretly meet. A year passes. Anna is tormented by the fact that she is deceiving her husband. She finds out she is pregnant. Finally, Anna confesses to her husband about her secret relationship with Vronsky. 

Alexei Karenin is having a hard time with Anna's betrayal. He decides to keep his wife by his side so that you won't be happy with Vronsky. Karenin demands that Anna stop seeing Vronsky. Anna suffers because her husband is trying to keep her near him. She is afraid that during the divorce, her husband will take her son away from her. 

Anna's daughter Anna is born. Karenin knows that this is Vronsky's child. After giving birth, Anna is dying. Frightened by Anna's illness, Karenin sincerely forgives her and Vronsky. Karenin shows nobility and lets Anna decide what to do. Anna decides not to divorce, but to go abroad. Vronsky resigns and leaves with Anna and their newborn daughter for Europe. Anna feels happy. 

Alexei Karenin and his son Seryozha remain in St. Petersburg. Karenin tells his son that his mother is dead, but the boy does not believe his father. 

Finally, Anna and Vronsky return to Petersburg. Karenin does not allow Anna to see her son. Anna, on her son's birthday, secretly sneaks into Karenin's house and visits her son. Serezha is happy to see his mother. Karenin finds Anna, she leaves. 

In the high society of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Anna is considered a "fallen woman", almost all acquaintances refuse to communicate with her. This hurts Anna deeply, but she comes to terms with it. Anna asks Karenin for a divorce, but he refuses her. Anna loses hope of becoming Vronsky's legal wife. 

Relationship between Anna and Vronsky deteriorates. Vronsky does not like the way Anna restricts his freedom and is jealous. Anna notices Vronsky's coldness. She is afraid that he will stop loving her. The characters often fight. Anna understands that she sacrificed everything for the sake of her love for Vronsky, but now this love does not bring her happiness. Anna suffers deeply and finds no support in anyone. Once at the station, she throws herself under the train and dies. 

After Anna's death, Vronsky cannot recover for a long time. He gives his daughter Anna to be raised by Alexei Karenin. Soon Vronsky regrets this act, but does not consider it possible to change anything. Vronsky sees no meaning in his life. In search of death, he goes to war in Serbia. 

The End.

That was a summary of the novel "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy.