Anna Karenina is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever written, Tolstoy himself called it his first true novel. It was initially released in serial installments from 1875 to 1877, all but the last part appearing in the periodical The Russian Messenger. When William Faulkner was asked to list what he thought were the three greatest novels, he replied: "Anna Karenina, Anna Karenina, and Anna Karenina".
Cover page of the first volume of Anna Karenina, Moscow, 1878
Anna Karenina family tree
Greta Garbo in a publicity still for Anna Karenina, MGM's influential 1935 production of Tolstoy's novel.
Portrait of a Young Woman (or so called "Anna Karenina") by Aleksei Mikhailovich Kolesov, 1885, National Museum in Warsaw
Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, usually referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential authors of all time. He received nominations for the Nobel Prize in Literature every year from 1902 to 1906 and for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901, 1902, and 1909.
Tolstoy in 1908
Leo Tolstoy at age 20, c. 1848
Tolstoy's wife Sophia and their daughter Alexandra
Portrait of Leo Tolstoy by Ivan Kramskoi, 1873