Anna Karenina

The must-have Pevear and Volokhonsky translation of one of the greatest Russian novels ever written

Described by William Faulkner as the best novel ever written and by Fyodor Dostoevsky as “flawless,” Anna Karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious Anna and the dashing officer, Count Vronsky. Tragedy unfolds as Anna rejects her passionless marriage and thereby exposes herself to the hypocrisies of society. Set against a vast and richly textured canvas of nineteenth-century Russia, the novel's seven major characters create a dynamic imbalance, playing out the contrasts of city and country life and all the variations on love and family happiness.

While previous versions have softened the robust and sometimes shocking qualities of Tolstoy's writing, Pevear and Volokhonsky have produced a translation true to his powerful voice. This authoritative edition, which received the PEN Translation Prize and was an Oprah Book Club™ selection, also includes an illuminating introduction and explanatory notes. Beautiful, vigorous, and eminently readable, this Anna Karenina will be the definitive text for fans of the film and generations to come. This Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition also features French flaps and deckle-edged paper.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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Published May 31, 2004

864 pages

Average rating: 8.01

319 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Anna Karenina* is a timeless classic celebrated for its profound exploration of human emotions, society, and spirituality, with richly dr...

Karla
Apr 10, 2026
10/10 stars
What a beautiful piece of art.
From start to finish, the world of imperial Russia in the 1800’s oddly kept me enthralled. But mostly it was Anna who kept me fascinated. She was such an emotionally complex character. I was ripped to shreds by the end. I just loved it so much.
Sue Dix
Mar 14, 2026
10/10 stars
So. I’ve done it. After 6 years, I have read Anna Karenina, and I absolutely loved it! There are so many reviews, already, that I don’t know what I could add, other than that is one the best books that I have ever read, and I highly recommend this translation.
Doll Face
Jun 30, 2025
DNF
LTC
Nov 20, 2024
Book #52: Kelly's pick for our 10th Anniversary meeting, to discuss a classic. The meeting was to take place in Tallman State Park as COVID lockdown rules had lifted. The meeting never took place.
starcometsxoxo
Mar 26, 2026
9/10 stars
"But Levin did not shoot himself or hang himself and went on living" you get it, Levin. My goat

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