Anna Karenina is sheer perfection as a work of art. No European work of fiction of our present day comes anywhere near it. -Fyodor Dostoevsky

The novel’s first words threaten to dissolve all ‘happy families’ into a sea of uninteresting sameness, while unhappy families are unique, intriguing, even romantic. But if the opening line is a universal truth, it is also a challenge Tolstoy sets himself: to shine light on the damnable tragedy that gives unhappiness its luster, and commend the unsung glories of an ordinary life. -From Sean Johnson’s Introduction

Anna Karenina is the wife of a prestigious official, a devoted mother, and one of the handsomest ladies in the high society of St. Petersburg, Russia. She seems to have it all, but when she meets the dashingly handsome Count Vronsky, she makes fateful choices that will bring misery to everyone around her. This novel is brought to vivid life by the classic translation of Constance Garnett.

This Canon Classic is an exciting drama that shows us both the consequences of human sin and what true love looks like when the flames of passion die. The Canon Classics series presents the most definitive works of Western literature in a colorful, well-crafted, and affordable way. Unlike many other thrift editions, our classics are printed on thicker text stock and feature individualized designs that prioritize readability by means of proper margins, leading, characters per line, font, trim size, etc. Each book’s materials and layout combine to make the classics a simple and striking addition to classrooms and homes, ideal for introducing the best of literary culture and human experience to the next generation.

This Worldview Edition features an introduction divided into sections on The World Around, About the Author, What Other Notables Said, Setting, Characters, & Plot Summary, Worldview Analysis, and 21 Discussion Questions & Answers.