Anna Karenina

Interesting Facts

• The novel begins with one of the most famous lines in world literature: «All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way».
• Tolstoy initially planned to title the novel «Two Marriages», but later changed it to «Anna Karenina».
• The novel was first published in the magazine «The Russian Messenger» in 1877, but due to disagreements with the editor, Tolstoy refused to publish the final part in the magazine.
• Tolstoy used the real story of his acquaintance Anna Pirogova, who threw herself under a train, as the basis for Anna Karenina's fate.
• The novel touches on numerous themes, including family relationships, moral dilemmas, social norms, and religious questions.
• There is an autobiographical element in the novel: the character Konstantin Levin is largely based on Tolstoy himself.
• Tolstoy employed many literary techniques, such as internal monologues and shifts in perspective, which were innovative for his time.
• The novel has been adapted into films multiple times, starting with a silent film in 1911 and continuing with modern adaptations.