PART ONE

“All happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

Everything went wrong in the Oblonsky family since Dolly, the wife of Stepan Arkadyevich Oblonsky, found out about her husband’s relationship with a French governess and said that she could not live with her unfaithful husband in the same house. Everyone, from family members to servants, was tensely waiting to see what would happen next. That day, Stepan Arkadyevich, whose social name was Stiva, woke up on the sofa in his office and immediately remembered what happened three days ago and groaned. It’s not that he was worried about his action, but he sincerely regretted that he had failed to properly hide his affair from his wife and now everyone was suffering: he, she, the children. He understood that he needed to somehow help the trouble, go to his wife, warn her, but he felt that now he was unable to do this. He remembered how stupid he had behaved when his wife, showing him a note to the French woman, asked what it meant. But he didn’t deny anything and just smiled stupidly with his usual kind smile, as if it didn’t concern him. He saw Dolly wince in pain and no longer want to see him.

Stepan Arkadyevich called to have him get dressed, and along with the clothes, the valet Matvey brought a telegram from his sister Anna, who announced her arrival. Stiva was happy because Anna could help reconcile the spouses. So he, having shaved and dressed, went to breakfast. After having breakfast and reading the newspaper, drinking a second cup of coffee and kalach, he smiled not because he was happy with the good news, but simply because he had good digestion. And, remembering his wife, he immediately became sad: he had to go to her, but he felt that whatever he said would look false, and he himself did not tolerate falsehood. However, he opened the door to his wife’s bedroom. Daria Alexandrovna (her relatives called her Dolly) tried to look stern, but she felt that she was afraid of her husband, afraid of lies and afraid of this conversation. She was putting together children's things, planning to leave him and at the same time she understood that she could not do this, because she was so used to consider him your husband, love him. When Stiva saw her face, exhausted by suffering, his calmness and good nature immediately disappeared somewhere, tears welled up in his eyes, because he sincerely pitied her and asked her to forgive him. But she didn’t want to hear.

Stepan Arkadyevich left for work. For the third year now he led the institution, he was loved and respected by both subordinates and superiors. He was liberal, had a condescending attitude towards people, and was aware of his ability to make mistakes. However, before serving, he was indifferent, and therefore it was there that he did not make mistakes, for which the leadership valued him. He was engaged in service affairs for several hours when a friend from his youth, whom he loved very much, Konstantin Dmitrievich Levin, came to him. They were complete opposites of each other, although they were the same age and had been friends since their youth. Each of them believed that the other was living a ghostly life. Levin lived in the village and was doing something, but Stiva did not understand what exactly and was not interested. When Oblonsky asked about the purpose of Levin’s visit to Moscow, he blushed and did not answer the question; instead, he asked how the Shcherbatsky princes were doing. At one time, while still a student, Levin often visited this family and was friends with the young Prince Shcherbatsky. He fell in love with the whole family, and therefore for a long time he could not understand which of the daughters of the Shcherbatsky princes was dear to him. Now he knew for sure that this was Kitty, the younger princess, whom he considered the most perfect, and now he came with the firm intention of wooing her. When they saw each other almost every day, and suddenly Levin went to the village. And yet his feelings for Kitty haunted him, so he finally decided everything for himself. True, he was considered a successful match for Kitty, but his unexpected departure was so inappropriate. Staying with his older maternal brother Koznishev, he wanted to tell his brother about his feelings, but he was just talking with a famous professor of philosophy, and Levin was forced to wait and listen. Soon the conversation interested him, so much so that he even asked: “If my feelings are destroyed, if my body dies, then there can be no existence?” He replied that science does not have facts to say anything for sure, so Levin did not listen to him anymore. When the guest finally left, Koznishev began asking about affairs in the zemstvo, in whose work Levin participated for some time, and then, disappointed, abandoned this business. Then he told Levin that Konstantin Dmitrievich’s brother, Nikolai, who had squandered most of his estate and quarreled with his brothers, was now in bad company. Koznishev paid Nikolai’s bill, but instead of gratitude he demanded to leave him alone. Levin realized that something was wrong with his brother and wanted to go to him, but first he had to meet with Oblonsky, and then with Kitty. After all, it was for her that he came.

Levin saw Kitty skating. She was delighted with him and invited him to ride together. Her mother greeted him rather coldly, but invited him to visit them. Delighted, Levin promised to be there in the evening and went to dinner with Oblonsky.

Stiva Oblonsky had already been guilty of a lot in the Anglia restaurant, but he preferred to dine here because he considered it a shame to avoid a restaurant under such conditions. They ate delicious food, although Levin would have been better off eating white bread and cheese. Oblonsky said that Kitty was interested in Levin, and Dolly believed that he would be a good husband for her sister Kitty. Levin was delighted and could not bear for anyone to talk about his feelings - it was so sacred to him. However, Oblonsky warned that after Levin left, the young Count Alexei Vronsky visited the Shcherbatskys, so he should hurry to confess first. Levin regretted that he told Oblonsky everything, because he did not understand his “special” feeling and humiliated him, simplified his love.

Princess Kitty was eighteen years old, and she only went out for the first winter, but she was already a great success: all the young people were simply in love with her. The parents understood that a serious proposal should be expected from Levin and Vronsky. Princess Shcherbatska did not understand Levin, she did not like him, and she was glad when he unexpectedly left. But Vronsky satisfied all the requirements of Kitty’s mother: rich, smart, noble, with brilliant career prospects. Prince Shcherbatsky did not trust Vronsky and believed that he could not wish for a better husband for Kitty than Levin. Kitty herself was friendly towards Levin and did not really imagine a future with him, while the future with Vronsky seemed wonderful to her, although she could not determine what she felt for him.

That evening, Levin arrived at Shcherbatsky in advance to propose to Kitty. She was shocked by his confession and, listening to his words, felt happy, however, remembering Vronsky, she refused Levin. He bowed and was about to leave when the princess came out. She read everything from the faces of the young people and was delighted with her daughter’s choice. Soon Kitty's friend Countess Nordston arrived, who always made fun of him because she did not understand. Levin usually managed to respond to her offensive words with dignity, and that evening he wanted only one thing: to get out of here as quickly as possible. But he was delayed by the arrival of a new guest - Count Alexei Vronsky. Levin was one of those people who are able to see not the bad, but the better in a happy opponent. Therefore, he noted the beauty and nobility of Vronsky, recognizing the advantages of his opponent.

When the evening ended, Kitty told her mother about the conversation with Levin. The mother was pleased and told her husband that everything was going towards Kitty’s marriage to Vronsky. He got angry and started shouting that the young count was not worthy of their daughter. The princess did not dare to tell her husband about Levin’s refusal. Kitty herself, although she felt touched by Vronsky’s attention, could not be happy because she felt guilty before Levin. Vronsky had no idea what plans Princess Shcherbatska had for him, because he did not like family life and did not intend to marry, although he liked Kitty. However, he had not yet taken a single step forward, although he felt some kind of spiritual connection with Kitty.

The next day, Vronsky went to the station to meet his mother, who had returned from St. Petersburg. On the platform he met Oblonsky, who was waiting for his sister Anna, who was supposed to arrive from St. Petersburg by this train. In the conversation they touched upon the Karenins, with whom Vronsky was not familiar, although he had heard about them, as well as Levin. Stiva said that Levin should have proposed to Kitty, and Vronsky immediately understood why she refused his rival. And although he himself does not intend to marry Kitty, his pride is subdued, and he does not feel remorse regarding Kitty. The train arrived, and Vronsky, approaching the desired compartment, politely stepped aside to let a young woman who was just leaving there pass. Her good, beautiful face, grace, elegance, special gentle smile and the attentive gaze of her gray eyes forced Vronsky to look at her more carefully. The woman also turned her head towards him, and he managed to notice in her short glance a natural liveliness, as if she was holding back something that was in abundance in her gaze and smile. While talking with his mother, Vronsky listens to the voice of a young woman who asks to see if her brother has arrived, and realizes that this is Stevie Oblonsky’s sister. She returns to the compartment, and Vronsky's mother introduces him to her companion. And, laughing, she says that she recognized him, because all the way they told each other about their sons - the countess about Alexei, and Anna about seven-year-old Seryozha. Vronsky was struck by the woman’s determination when she, having met her brother, hugged him and kissed him. When they were leaving, an unfortunate incident occurred - a train ran over a watchman. Stiva and Vronsky found out that he has a large family left, and Anna says that something needs to be done for them. Vronsky walked away, but the station chief caught up with them and asked who the two hundred rubles that Vronsky had given were intended for. Anna leaves the station depressed. She asked her brother how long he had known Vronsky, and he said that for a long time everyone had been hoping for his marriage to Kitty.

Dolly did not expect help from anyone, however, remembering her sister-in-law’s friendly attitude towards her, she was forced to accept Anna.

Anna sincerely rejoiced at the opportunity to see her nephews, about whom she knew well - and if anyone was born, and what they were sick for. Dolly is pleasantly surprised. When they are alone, Anna tells her what Yura herself has thought more than once: if you love a person, you must forgive for the sake of the children and yourself. After this conversation, Dolly felt relieved, and when they had dinner at home, for the first time during the disorder she said “you” to her husband. And although a certain alienation remained, there was no talk of divorce. After dinner, Kitty arrived, who at first felt awkward in the presence of the “respectful St. Petersburg lady,” but then Anna’s cordiality and sincerity conquered her, and they talked amicably about Vronsky and the upcoming ball. The children did not leave Anna's HIV. Everyone was talking about something good, and Anna Kitty said that she was traveling to Moscow with Vronsky’s mother. She didn’t tell me about the two hundred rubles that he gave to the widow, because she felt that there was something here that concerned only her, but that shouldn’t exist. Another thing happened that day. When in the evening everyone gathered after tea in the living room, where an atmosphere of peace and love now reigned, because the Oblonskys had reconciled, Anna suddenly felt sad, she missed her son. She went to her room following the photograph of her son and, when she was on the stairs, she saw a guest enter. It was Vronsky. His face seemed downcast and frightened to Anna when he saw her. Oblonsky invited him to come in, but he refused and left. Everyone found this visit strange. Kitty thought that Vronsky wanted to see her, but did not dare to enter. Anna felt something wrong in her heart.

When the Shcherbatskys arrived at the ball that Kitty had talked about with Anna, it had already begun. Kitty was in in a great mood, she was aware of her beauty and, in fact, looked beautiful and at ease, as if she had been born in this hall. She was immediately invited to dance by the best dancer, and while she was already dancing, she saw the Oblonskys and Anna, who was wearing an exquisite black velvet dress with white lace.

Kitty asked her to wear purple, but she had to admit that Anna was right in not trying to embellish herself with a dress. She was like a frame for him, but the main thing was Anna herself - simple, relaxed and at the same time lively, interesting and beautiful. She looked at Kitty approvingly and cheerfully noted that she was not left without partners, and even entered the hall dancing. It was then that Vronsky approached and bowed. Kitty thought that Anna was unhappy with him, but did not understand why. Vronsky reminded Kitty that she had promised him the first quadrille. She watched Anna dance and admired her, waiting for Vronsky to invite her to a waltz. Noticing the girl's surprised look, Vronsky, blushing, invited her to a waltz. They took a step when the music stopped. Kitty looked at Vronsky with such love that it was impossible not to notice, but that look remained unanswered, and this depressed her for a very long time. When she danced a quadrille with Vronsky, she hoped that everything would be resolved during the mazurka, although he had not yet invited her to this dance. Kitty was sure that it could not be otherwise. But then she saw Anna. How this reserved woman has changed! Her eyes shone, she felt the same as Kitty - she was a success. Suddenly Kitty, looking at Vronsky, realized with horror that he was the reason for this. The count's always calm and imperturbable face changed to a submissive one when he looked at Anna, whom he seemed to be afraid of. Kitty refused everyone who invited her to the mazurka, determined that Vronsky would dance with her. But he invited Anna to the mazurka, and Kitty was forced to sit among those who were not invited. Countess Nordston, seeing this, ordered her gentleman to invite Kitty. Kitty was in despair, she could not hide it, and Vronsky, looking at her during the mazurka, did not recognize her, so the suffering of her soul changed the girl’s face.

When Levin left the Shcherbatskys after an unsuccessful explanation, his soul was bitter, he reproached himself for going to dinner and then getting married, and in the meantime his brother Nikolai needed his help. He went to his brother, remembering his story along the way. During his student years, Nikolai lived like a monk, avoided all kinds of entertainment, fasted, prayed, and suddenly everything changed with a heavy, desperate binge. He became friends with such disgusting people that everyone turned away from him. Levin felt sorry for his brother, whom he considered guilty only of having a passionate, hot-tempered character and a depressed mind. Konstantin Dmitrievich thought about how strangely people reacted: when he tried to restrain his character with the help of religion, everyone laughed at him, and when he gave free rein to his character, everyone recoiled from him. He decided to prove to his brother that he loves him and understands him.

Levin found his brother in some room where they were sitting strangers. Nikolai immediately sent the pockmarked woman for vodka. Levin noted with pain how his brother had changed for the worse. Nikolai was happy at first, and then, remembering his grievances against his older brother Sergei Ivanovich, somehow changed and puffed up. However, Levin did not pay attention to this. My brother was talking to some young man about setting up a metalworking shop in the village, and Konstantin Dmitrievich asked why in the village, where there is already a lot of work. The brother noticed that he treated the peasants and their fate like a lord. Levin did not argue, feeling sorry for his brother. The woman returned with vodka. Her name was Masha. Nikolai took her from prostitutes and lived with her as his wife. She looked after him and kicked him when he drank too much. This time Nikolai grabbed the bottle and drank greedily, quickly becoming drunk, and then he was put to bed. Levin asked that Masha inform him about her brother in letters and little by little persuade him to move to live in his house.

The next day after the ball, Anna Karetnaya decides to return to St. Petersburg, and upon Dolly’s persuasion, she notes that she must go because she unwittingly became the cause of Kitty’s suffering. Dolly says that she does not want this marriage for her sister, because if Vronsky is capable of falling in love in one day, then it would be better for Kitty not to have any relationship with him. Dolly herself hastens to assure that she will always be on Anna’s side.

Getting into the carriage, Anna sincerely believed that this whole story was over forever, that this was just an annoying episode that she would quickly forget about. Anna opened the novel and tried to read, but impressions and memories prevented her from concentrating; she was tormented by a feeling of shame, the reasons for which she began to look for. She understood that between her and Vronsky there could be nothing other than the relationship of ordinary acquaintances, but for some reason a strange joy covered her entire being when she was immersed in memories. At the stop, Anna went out to get some air, and when she was about to enter the carriage, suddenly some shadow blocked the light of the lantern. It was Vronsky, who began to say passionately that he was going to be where she was. A kind of joyful pride overwhelmed Anna, because he said what her soul secretly hoped for. But the mind still resisted. She did not sleep all night, feeling that this conversation had brought them both surprisingly closer.

When she went out onto the platform in St. Petersburg, she saw her husband in a new way: Anna was struck by the unpleasant features of his appearance that she had not noticed before, in particular his ear. She felt a sense of dissatisfaction with herself, as if she had been insincere towards her husband, but had not noticed it before. She just asked him if his son was healthy.

Vronsky also did not sleep that night. He felt proud not so much because he had amazed Anna (he didn’t believe that), but because he was finally able to experience such strong emotions himself. When he first saw Anna and her husband on the platform, he realized that their marriage really existed. Vronsky came up to greet the couple and saw that Anna’s natural liveliness had disappeared somewhere. Only a momentary glance from under her eyelashes reminded him of the old Anna, that deep gaze hid something, and Vronsky was happy.

Her son met her at home. But now even Seryozha seemed not as good to Anna as she thought. She realized that she would have to get used to new reality. She returned to her duties as a mother and wife, to her usual life among social acquaintances, daily hassles, and what flared up in her then in the carriage died down somewhat.

Vronsky returns to his usual bachelor life, making visits to be wherever Anna is.

PART TWO

After the events she experienced, Kitty fell ill. Spring was approaching, and she was getting worse, and none of the doctors could help. The only thing they recommended was a trip abroad to the waters. Her mother, feeling guilty, was ready to do everything possible to make her daughter healthy and cheerful again. We decided to go abroad. Dolly was busy with family problems: just getting up after another birth, caring for one of her eldest daughters, who fell ill, as she feared, with scarlet fever. Dolly's relationship with her husband never improved. He, as always, was not at home, and neither was his money. And then her beloved sister is leaving. Left alone, Dolly and Kitty talk about love and betrayal. The older sister tries to console Kitty, but also reproaches her for the fact that Dolly continues to live with her husband, who betrayed her. This causes Dolly even more pain, because she did not expect such cruelty from her sister. But soon she saw that Kitty herself was crying after these words and, understanding her sister’s condition, she forgave her everything. Kitty says that now she sees only the bad in everything and doesn’t trust anyone, she feels good only with children, so she asks her sister for permission to look after her children with her. Dolly happily agrees. Together, the sisters are caring for all six of Dolly's children, but Kitty's own health has not improved. The Shcherbatskys went abroad for Lent.

Meanwhile, Anna, while in St. Petersburg, communicates with different people. Although the refined society of the capital was a rather close circle, there were peculiar groups in it. Anna had her own relationship with each: the first, official, consisted of her husband’s comrades and employees, smart and prudent people; the second was the circle of Countess Lidia Ivanovna, a circle of old, ugly, chaste women and smart, ambitious men; it was this circle that was called “the conscience of St. Petersburg society.” The third was the circle of Princess Betsy Tverskaya, who was Anna’s relative - the wife of her cousin - it was a world of balls, luxurious toilets, cheerful dinners. It was this particular circle that Anna had previously avoided, because it required additional expenses that exceeded her capabilities, and besides, the first of the circles was more to her liking. But after arriving from Moscow, Anna Karenina began to avoid her highly moral friends, trying to spend time with Betsy. Vronsky went everywhere where Anna was. She did not give him any hopes, however, when she met him, she became animated, cheerful, and something new shone in her eyes. Meetings with Vronsky captivated her more and more.

One day, being late for the start of the performance, Vronsky entered Cousin Betsy’s box and told him why he was late. It turns out that he was assigned to settle the case of two officers who, on the way, met a beautiful woman in a carriage ahead and, having watched where she entered, already tipsy, decided to write her a passionate letter and hand it to her personally. But her husband came out and threw them out. Now the husband demands that the regiment commander strictly punish the officers. And he entrusted this matter to Vronsky so that they would apologize to the woman’s husband, and he would forgive them.

After the opera, Princess Betsy gave a reception. The conversation was not very lively at first, until they started gossiping. The Karenins were especially condemned, considering Karenin a fool. They said about Anna that after her trip to Moscow she changed a lot and brought with her the shadow of Vronsky. Meanwhile, Vronsky arrived, and then Anna. The conversation turned to marriage, love and passion. Betsy asks Anna for her opinion on this matter. Anna says that there are as many types of love as there are hearts. After this, she turns to Vronsky, informing him that she has received a letter from Moscow about Kitty’s illness.

Secluded in the corner of the living room with Vronsky, she reproaches him for Kitty, and he once again confesses to her. It was his love for Anna that became the reason for his unworthy behavior with Kitty, he believes. At this time Karenin arrives. Everyone looks condemningly at Anna and Vronsky, who did not even stop talking. When Karenin left, Anna still stayed with Betsy. Vronsky realized that in fact she did not want him to return to Kitty. Saying goodbye to Anna, he realized that that evening he was closer to Anna than ever before.

When Anna returned home, she saw that the man was still awake, waiting for her. While in Betsy, he saw Anna with Vronsky, but did not attach any importance to this. But he saw that for others it was strange. Therefore, he decided to talk to his wife, although for a long time he could not decide what exactly to tell her. Hearing his words, Anna seemed to put on the armor of deception, feigning surprise. However, Alexey Alexandrovich knew his wife too well to believe that she was pretending. He saw that she understood well what he was hinting at, and her soul closed before him forever. Karenin felt like a person who returned home and saw that her house was closed and her keys were lost. Anna, in turn, realized that her feelings were indifferent to the man; he was only concerned about the publicity about her behavior in refined society. When they went to bed, Anna was afraid that the conversation would continue, but soon she heard her husband’s even breathing.

From that day on, the Karenins’ new life began: outwardly, nothing seemed to have changed, but there was no longer a spiritual connection between the spouses. Although Alexey Alexandrovich was powerful and influential in state affairs, he was powerless in family affairs. He couldn't find the right tone in communication with Anna, although he felt that she could still be persuaded with kindness and tenderness. He spoke to her somewhat ironically, as always, but in such a tone it was impossible to say what was needed.

A year passed, and what Vronsky had so longed for, what seemed to him an impossible happiness, happened: Anna now belonged to him. But she herself had a hard time: at night she was tormented by terrible dreams in which her position was depicted in distorted images - as if Vronsky and Karenin were both her husbands.

Some time later, when Levin returned home after an unsuccessful explanation, he hoped that the pain would quickly go away, but even after three months nothing happened. And yet work, events rural life and time did its work: the difficult memories were gradually forgotten, and he only waited for the news of Kitty’s marriage. So spring came, and Levin decided to forget everything and build his lonely life. Not everything turned out the way he wanted, but he worked a lot on the farm and hoped to overcome the eternal peasant unpretentiousness: he improved field farming, introduced new breeds of livestock, and even planned to write a book on agriculture, in which he took into account the peculiarities of the work of hired peasants.

One spring, Stepan Arkadyevich Oblonsky came to see him. He was just in those places on business - he was going to sell the forest from his wife’s estate, but he could not deny himself the pleasure of meeting an old friend and going on a spring hunt. Levin was very happy with him, but he was always waiting for news about Kitty, and Stiva was still silent about it. Finally, while hunting, Levin asked about her himself. Oblonsky spoke about Kitty’s illness and the Shcherbatskys’ plans. Levin was ashamed to admit to himself that he was happy about the news, because those who hurt him were hurt themselves. However, remembering the cause of all events - Vronsky, he became gloomy and irritable. He almost quarreled with Oblonsky, reproaching him for selling the forest cheaply, leaving his children without an estate. Levin's mood deteriorates even more when talking about the general decline of noble estates and the irresponsibility of the nobility towards the future. Oblonsky is alien to all these considerations; he considers himself an aristocrat, and therefore these penny calculations are beyond his level.

Vronsky was filled with passion for Anna, but outwardly nothing had changed in his life: he lived by regimental interests and performed secular duties. Although he didn’t say anything about his relationship with Anna, everyone had long ago guessed everything. Rumors about this also reached Vronsky’s mother. At first, she reacted condescendingly to this hobby of her son: she liked Anna, and besides, this novel in the eyes of the world only visualized her son. And when she found out that he had refused a position lucrative for his career in order to remain in the regiment so that he could see Anna, she was indignant and demanded his immediate arrival in Moscow.

Vronsky, in addition to the affairs of service and the higher world, had one more hobby: he loved horses. So, when the officer races were intended, he, having acquired a purebred English mare, decided to take part in them. In the morning, after breakfast, he went to check on his mare Frou-Frou, who seemed to be feeling something and was nervous, and then he went to Anna’s dacha. He hoped to talk to her alone, because he knew that at this time her husband would not be there. Dear Vronsky remembered her son, who always bothered him. The boy felt that he could not understand his mother’s attitude towards this man, so he looked at him with an attentive, inquisitive gaze, and Vronsky found this gaze unpleasant. When he got to Anna, he saw that she was very worried about something, and insisted that she tell him the reason. Anna revealed to Vronsky that she was pregnant. He had previously insisted that she leave her husband, and now he began to insist on it. Anna refused to do this every time, and Vronsky could not understand why she, who found it so difficult to lie, still tried to maintain this false relationship and did not want to throw in her lot with him. Vronsky saw only the two of them - himself and Anna, and did not take into account her son. After all, she understood that she could not jeopardize the fate of her son, because if she left her husband, she would lose the opportunity and right not only to raise her son, but also to see him. She both wanted to notify Vronsky about the pregnancy, and was afraid, because she understood that he would again demand fundamental changes in her life. Suddenly she heard the voice of her son, returning from a walk, and said that she was quite happy. Then she kissed Vronsky and promised to come to the race.

Despite the fact that Vronsky, even while at Anna’s, glanced at his watch, he was too excited to realize that there was not enough time left before the race, and therefore he went to pay for the horses. Already on the way, he realized that he would barely make it to his race and would inevitably miss the previous ones, that is, he would arrive significantly late, when everyone, even the royal court, had already gathered at the hippodrome. This would be a violation of etiquette and would lead to gossip. Therefore, Vronsky returned home when none of his comrades were there. The footman reported that they had already sent for him from the stable twice. Slowly and calmly, as always, Vronsky changed his clothes and arrived at the hippodrome just in time: the next race had just ended. But his lateness still attracted attention. His brother Alexander approached Vronsky and made a remark about his lateness, since influential people had noticed Vronsky’s absence, and also reproached him for the fact that he had recently been seen near the Karenins’ dacha. Alexey Vronsky rarely got angry, but now he was really angry. The brother understood this and, wishing him success, walked away. Vronsky wanted to concentrate before the race, but he never succeeded: first he was stopped by Oblonsky, who had arrived in St. Petersburg and wanted to see his friend, then by some acquaintance, so Vronsky did not even have time to inspect the saddle when the race participants were called out .

As soon as the start was given, Vronsky rushed forward, but at first he was in second. Then after several barriers he took the lead and led the race. His Frou-Frou flew over obstacles like a bird, understood her rider well and obeyed him in everything. There was only one more obstacle left - a ditch with water - and Frou-Frou easily overcame it, but the rider himself almost did not keep up with her movements and made a mistake - he sat in the saddle earlier than necessary. Fru-Fru fell, Vronsky’s awkward movement broke her back. He didn’t even immediately understand what exactly had happened, and still pulled her, forcing her to stand up, but she only trembled like a fish and looked with her beautiful eyes. Vronsky angrily kicked her in the stomach and pulled again, but in vain. Grabbing his head, he screamed. The doctor and the officers of his regiment were already running towards him and decided to shoot Frou-Frou. Vronsky could not talk to anyone and walked away from the hippodrome. For the first time in his life, he felt guilty and unhappy. One of his comrades caught up with him and took him home. After some time, Vronsky already woke up, but the memories of these races remained a difficult memory of his life.

After a conversation with his wife about marital responsibilities, Alexey Alexandrovich Karenin outwardly changed little in his attitude towards her. He tried not to think about her feelings and behavior, and he succeeded. He did not want to see and did not see how they looked askance at his wife. But, even without and without demanding any evidence, he felt like a betrayed husband, and therefore was unhappy. On the day when the race took place, he decided to go to his wife’s dacha, because he had made it a rule to visit her once a week as a diversion, in order to at least outwardly maintain the appearance of well-being in the family. In addition, it was necessary to transfer money for farming. From there he had to go to the races, where the royal court should be and where he needed to visit. Anna was not waiting for Karenin and agreed to go with Betsy. She endured the conversation with her husband with dignity, trying to speak naturally, but she felt that there were a lot of words, and they were said in a hurry. Strange feelings possessed her. Getting into Betsy's carriage, having already said goodbye to Karenin, she suddenly remembered her husband's kiss and, feeling that place on her hand, trembled.

As soon as Alexey Alexandrovich arrived at the races, he looked for Anna and did not immediately see her among the ladies. However, she saw her husband from afar and had the opportunity to watch how he greeted his acquaintances: proudly with those who were waiting for his glance, friendly with equals, and she herself waited for the powers that be to cast a glance at him. Anna was disgusted to see this. Betsy shouted to Karenin, and he approached his wife. At this time, Anna was waiting for Vronsky to leave and looked at where the horsemen were lining up. The man was just talking to a general he knew, and for some reason his voice surprisingly irritated her. Maybe because he was so calm and reasonable. Anna did not want to understand that behind this feigned calmness Karenin was hiding his worries, because from all sides the only name that could be heard was Vronsky. When the race began, Anna kept looking at Vronsky, and Karenin read with horror on her face those feelings that he tried so hard not to think about. When Vronsky fell, Anna could not restrain herself: she fluttered like a bird and did not understand what was being said to her until the news was brought that Vronsky was alive. Then she covered her face and burst into tears. Karenin could not allow this scene to be seen, and covered her with himself, giving her time to recover. For the third time, he invited Anna to go from the hippodrome and refused Princess Betsy when she offered to take Anna home. In the carriage, he noticed that her behavior during the fall of one of the riders looked too scandalous. He kept waiting for his wife to begin to refute his suspicions, but the expression on her face did not even promise him the desired deception. Moreover, Anna said that she loved Vronsky, that she was his mistress, and that she was afraid and hated her husband. Karenin turned pale and sat, without moving, all the way home; but as they approached, he turned to Anna with the demand to behave with dignity while he found means to save his honor. He himself behaved outwardly calmly: he got out of the carriage, offered his hand to his wife and shook her goodbye, because there were servants around. Soon Anna received a note from Betsy, who informed her that Vronsky was healthy, but in despair. Anna calmed down a little. Her mood improved: she remembered her conversation with her husband and thought with relief that the relationship was broken. In addition, Betsy's news promised that the meeting intended for Vronsky would take place.

The Shcherbatskys finally drove off to the waters of a small German town. The three of them lived with their daughter and wife for several days, and then the father went to Carlsbad. Kitty was bored in the refined society that had gathered at the fashionable resort at that time. Her mother made every effort to entertain her daughter: they recommended her to a German princess, an English lady, but their circle of contacts was still limited mainly to Russian families. Particular attention was attracted by one Russian girl, Varenka, who arrived together with a Russian lady, Madame Stahl. This girl helped the seriously ill and everyone who needed it. Watching her, Kitty came to the conclusion that Varenka was not a relative of Madame Stahl, but she was not an employee either. Kitty felt some strange sympathy for this girl and saw that she liked it too. She later realized that she had been deceived, although she did not understand where this feeling came from, and Kitty felt sad. This mood intensified even more when a strange couple arrived on the waters: a tall, thin, hunched man and a young, pockmarked woman, dressed poorly and tastelessly.

Kitty was already picturing a beautiful, sad romance in her imagination when the princess found out that it was Nikolai, the brother of Konstantin Levin, and his partner Maria Nikolaevna. The mention of Levin made Kitty relive what happened to her, which is why Nikolai disgusted her. The story of Madame Stahl, who, as it turned out, lost her newborn child during childbirth, and relatives, fearing for her health, replaced the child with the daughter of a cook, who was born at the same time. It was Varenka, whom Madame Stahl did not abandon even when she learned the whole truth. Here, on the waters, they both preached a religion of self-sacrifice and service, which first captured Kiti. However, after the story of the artist Petrov, who began to fall in love with Kitty, who nursed him, and his jealous wife, this passion for serving people and the religion of self-sacrifice ceased. When Prince Shcherbatsky returned some time later, he saw his daughter in much better condition, however, he did not approve of her religious hobbies. After all, he knew Madame Stahl even before she ended up in a wheelchair: evil tongues insisted that his legs were too short, which distorted her physique, which is why she did not get out of the wheelchair. Kitty argues, feverishly proving that she is truly a kind woman. Prince Shcherbatsky remarked to this that it would be much better to do good without anyone knowing about it. After that, the father invites guests to coffee and subdues everyone with his cheerfulness and cheerful disposition. Then Kitty heard Varenka laugh for the first time. Saying goodbye after an unpleasant conversation and reconciliation with her, Kitty made her promise that she would come to her in Russia. Varenka jokingly promised to come when Kitty got married, to which she, in turn, promised to specifically marry for this purpose.

The doctors' hopes were justified: Kitty recovered, although she was no longer as cheerful as before. The Moscow events now began to seem something distant to her.

PART THREE

Alexey Aleksandrovich Karenin, speaking to the commission about the condition of foreigners, was a great success. He even forgot that he had appointed Anna to come on Tuesday, and was unpleasantly surprised when she entered the office. He wanted to get up out of habit, but he didn’t get up and blushed, which Anna had never seen. She admitted her guilt and added that she could not change anything. Karenin doesn’t want to hear anything and hopes that everything can be changed, because if Anna breaks off relations with Vronsky, he is ready to ignore her action.

Levin's thoughts about work life led to disappointment in his current life, especially since Kitty was nearby, and he wanted and could see her, because he was invited. Once Daria Alexandrovna sent a note asking him to bring a saddle for Kitty, but he handed over the saddle and did not go himself, because it seemed to him that after her refusal he would not be able to look at her without reproach, and she would simply hate him for it. The second day, having entrusted matters to the manager, he went hunting with his friend Sviyazhsky. On the way, stopping to feed the horses of a wealthy peasant, he listened with delight to his story about the farm and felt that he was discovering something new for himself. Sviyazhsky headed the district nobility, was married, and his wife’s sister, whom Levin liked, lived in his house. Moreover, her relatives wanted to marry her off to him, but for Levin this was completely impossible. These circumstances somewhat spoiled the pleasure of being a guest. But Sviyazhsky himself aroused sincere respect for his deep knowledge in various industries, and Levin’s sincere surprise, because his judgments were in no way connected with life. For example, treating the nobility with contempt, believing that many of them yearn for the times of serfdom, he served honestly, leading the nobility of his district. Levin tried to understand Sviyazhsky, but he hid his soul. Disillusioned with the household, Levin wanted to see Sviyazhsky happy. He also hoped to meet with the landowners at a friend’s place, to talk and listen about farming, about hired workers and about everything else that had worried him so much lately.

The hunt turned out to be not very successful, but Levin’s hopes for interesting conversations were justified. At dinner at Sviyazhsky there were several neighboring landowners who discussed topics that were interesting to Levin. In these conversations, he heard an echo of his thoughts about the characteristics of the Russian peasant, about the need for new forms of management. Left alone in the room that was assigned to him for the night, Levin could not sleep for a long time; he remembered again and again everything that was said between the landowners, mentally arguing with them. So from the impressions of that day and long debates with himself, Levin’s new idea was born: it is necessary to interest hired workers in the success of the entire economy; Levin did not yet know how to do this, but he felt that it was possible.

Although Levin intended to stay for a few days, on the second day he went home to begin bringing his idea to life. But it turned out to be very difficult to accomplish what I planned. Firstly, there was a lot of ongoing work that could not be postponed and which prevented the peasants from considering the advantages of the new management; secondly, the peasants treated the master with age-old distrust, did not believe that he could want something other than force them to do more for less. However, Levin’s persistence bore fruit: one peasant took over the gardens as a share, the second selected an artel to participate in the farmyard. And although, as before, Levin had to overcome the eternal ideas of peasants about farming and eradicate the main principle of the Russian peasant “as God willing,” it still seemed to him that in practice his business was moving forward.

The summer passed in these worries. He learned that the Oblonskys went to Moscow with Kitty; he was ashamed of his discourtesy, which, in his opinion, broke off all relations with them. Levin read a lot, but found nothing in books about the case he had in mind. But he knew what he wanted: to prove theoretically and in practice that the Russian people differ from others in that they were historically called upon to populate and cultivate vast virgin expanses, that the methods of the Work are connected with this historical feature and that these methods are not so bad, how we used to think about them. In order to theoretically substantiate his work, Levin decided to go abroad and study locally everything that had been done in this direction. He waited until the wheat was sold so he could get money and leave. But the rains started and work stopped.

On the first day, when the weather became good, Levin went to see the farm himself and prepare for departure. Conversations with the peasants further confirmed his intention not to deviate from his goal; it seemed to him that they were beginning to understand him. In the evening he sat down to write the introduction to his book, but suddenly remembered Kitty. He felt sad. Suddenly he heard with joy that someone was driving up to the house. Levin hoped to rejoice with the unexpected guest, but brother Nikolai arrived. In such a mood as Levin was, it was even more painful for him to communicate with his brother, who was sick in the last stages of consumption. But, seeing him, Levin felt regret, it was obvious that his brother did not have long to live, Nikolai had changed a lot and seemed meek and submissive, he could not believe in the imminent end and kept talking about improving his condition. Levin pretended to believe, and was glad when his brother turned the conversation to his, Konstantin’s, affairs. There was no need to deceive here, and Levin spoke about his plans, but it was clear that his brother was not interested in this.

At night, Levin felt scared and hurt by the realization that all his aspirations and aspirations were being interrupted by death. On the second day, Nikolai’s mood changed, he again became irritable and picky, criticized everything that Konstantin had planned, called it utopian communism. No matter how offensive it was for Konstantin to hear this, he felt his long-standing doubts in his brother’s words and became even more angry. The brothers quarreled, Nikolai decided to leave. Konstantin asked for forgiveness, but could not persuade his brother to stay. As he was leaving, Nikolai sincerely kissed his brother, as if saying goodbye forever. Three days later, Konstantin Levin went abroad; it seemed to him that he would soon die, and therefore he wanted to stay in life at least by his own business.

PART FOUR

The Karenins continued to live together, but they were already complete strangers to each other. Although Vronsky did not visit their home, Alexey Alexandrovich knew that his wife was meeting with her lover. This relationship tormented all three, and everyone hoped that soon everything would be resolved somehow: Karenin believed that Anna’s passion would pass, Anna was sure that everything would end very soon, she did not know what exactly would put an end to this situation, but her conviction also captivated Vronsky.

In winter, he was assigned to a foreign prince for a week to show all the glory of Russian life and St. Petersburg. It was even difficult for Vronsky to systematize all the fun that different faces offered the prince: trotters, and pancakes, and bear hunting, and gypsies... Despite the fact that such communication was not new for Vronsky, this week seemed very difficult to him. For the first time, it was as if he saw himself from the outside, and he didn’t like what he saw: he was very self-confident, very healthy, very neat, very bad person. Having taken the prince out for fun, after a sleepless night and a bear hunt, Vronsky returned home, where a note from Anna was waiting for him, in which she informed him that she was ill, that her husband would not be at home in the evening, and asked Vronsky to come. There was still time before the appointed meeting, Vronsky lay down and fell asleep. All impressions last days strangely intertwined in a dream with memories of Anna. He woke up in horror and remembered that the biggest impression in the dream was made by a dirty little peasant who was out hunting, who for some reason spoke French. For some reason, the peasant’s memories of this now made Vronsky shudder.

He looked at his watch and saw that he was late for Anna's appointment. Having arrived at Anna’s house, he ran into Karenin at the very door. This meeting hurt Vronsky’s pride; he felt like a fraud. His feelings for Anna had recently undergone significant changes, his ambitious plans, born under the influence of his meeting with Serpukhovsky, again gave way to love, but Vronsky felt that the best pages of their novel had already been read, at the same time he knew that he could not leave her . Through her pregnancy, Anna could no longer be in the world; she suffered from her husband’s attitude towards her, from jealousy when she could not see Vronsky, and was afraid of childbirth. And this time Anna began to reproach him for continuing to lead his usual social life, complaining about her husband that he did not understand her condition and did not feel what suffering she was experiencing. Then Anna told her strange dream: as if she had entered a room, and there in the corner there was a small dirty peasant bent over a sack and saying something in French, she asked what this dream was about, and received the answer that she was destined to die during childbirth Vronsky tried to calm her down, but he himself felt nervous.

After meeting Vronsky on the threshold of his house, Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin went to the opera, served the appointed time there and returned home. He could not sleep and spent the whole night in his office. Finally, he decided that he was forced to fulfill his threat - to get a divorce and take his son. In the morning, Karenin silently entered his wife’s room with a terrible face, silently walked up to her desk and opened it. Anna, amazed by this behavior, asked what he wanted. Karenin replied that he needed Vronsky's letters. Anna tried to close the table, but the man roughly pushed her away. Then, looking angrily at his wife, he said that she did not keep the conditions that he put forward, and now he has the right to file for divorce and take his son. Anna asked to leave her son at least until she gave birth, but Karenin silently left her room.

The visit to the lawyer once again proved to Karenin that in the event of a divorce, shame awaits him, that the form of divorce on which he insists will involve many witnesses in this matter. Alexey Alexandrovich's official affairs were also not in the best condition. The commission accepted his proposals regarding foreigners and irrigation of the Zaraisk province, but his opponent chose cunning tactics. He supported everything that Karenin proposed, and even added his own activities in this direction, which brought everything to the point of absurdity. When is absurdity measures taken became clear to everyone, the opponent pulled away, reminding him that main idea these events belonged to Karenin. So his position became unsteady, and the world’s disdain for his devoted husband was also added. And Alexey Alexandrovich made an important decision - to go to distant provinces and sort things out himself on the spot. Before a long journey, he stopped in Moscow for three days. Karenin didn’t want to see anyone, but by chance Stiva Oblonsky saw him and invited him to dinner. Karenin referred to urgent matters, but Stepan Arkadyevich insisted.

The next day after this meeting, Oblonsky in the morning stopped at the theater to see a young dancer, then went to choose fish and asparagus for a dinner party, and then to the hotel, where he needed to see three people: Levin, who had just returned from abroad, his the new boss and Karenin. Stiva loved to give dinners where everything was exquisite: food, wine, and guests. He really liked the lunch program he had to give. The dishes are simple and wonderful, and the guests: Kitty and Levin, Sergei Ivanovich Koznishev and Alexey Alexandrovich Karenin, who represented the Moscow and St. Petersburg intelligentsia, there must also be an enthusiastic Pestsov, who will not let anyone get bored, etc. Stiva noticed that Karenin treated him very dryly yesterday, and guessed that the rumors about Anna and Vronsky were probably not without foundation, that not all was well with the Karenin spouses. But this trouble could not overshadow Stevie’s wonderful mood, and he hoped that everything would somehow work out.

Stepan Arkadyevich went to see Levin for a minute, but sat there for a whole hour, then had breakfast with the new boss, and only on the fourth day did he meet with Karenin. Alexey Alexandrovich had just sealed the envelope with the letter to the lawyer in the divorce case when Oblonsky arrived. Karenin decided to announce his intentions regarding his wife and put an end to these burdensome family relations. But Karenin did not know Stiva. The news of the divorce shocked him, but he so sincerely sympathized with Karenin, so sincerely defended his sister and so persistently persuaded him to come to dinner and talk with Dolly, that even Karenin could not resist and gave his word to be. When Oblonsky returned home, some guests had already gathered and there was a rather cool atmosphere in the living room, because Dolly could not unite such different people. Stepan Arkadyevich introduced everyone in a few minutes, suggested a topic for conversation to Karenin and Koznishev, and the living room became like anywhere else where refined society gathered. Levin arrived later than everyone else; he was both afraid and wanted to see Kitty. When he found out that she was here, everything else ceased to interest him. Kitty was also looking forward to meeting Levin; she almost burst into tears when she saw him, but controlled herself. The girl turned to Levin with a question that had no double meaning and concerned bear hunting, but in her words Levin heard a request for forgiveness, and trust in him, and hope, and love, which he could not help but believe. The dinner turned out wonderful, interesting conversations were not interrupted. They talked about the fate of nations, and about emancipation, about the inequality of rights of women and men in marriage. One of the guests began a conversation about adultery. Oblonsky, feeling the inappropriateness of this topic in the presence of Karenin, tried to divert attention from this issue, but Alexey Alexandrovich seemed to feel nothing. Dolly decided to talk to Karenin, she did not believe that Anna had neglected her marital duties, but the suffering on Alexei Alexandrovich’s face told her more than words, Dolly begs him not to demand a divorce, because this will destroy Anna, she will not be able to accept a new marriage while she is alive her husband; Dolly understands that then the whole world, all refined society, will turn away from Anna. She reminds Karenin of the possibility of Christian forgiveness, of love for those who hate. Karenin says that you can love those who hate, but it is impossible to love those you hate.

Previously, Levin would have been happy to express his opinions on the issues that were discussed, but now he saw and heard only Kitty and perceived everything as she did. There was such a mutual understanding between them that there was almost no need to utter words. Kitty was sitting at the card table and sitting on it with chalk. Looking at her, Levin suddenly realized that he couldn’t live a day without Kitty, he took the chalk from her and wrote the first letters of the words, a question that worried him: when you answered me that this couldn’t be, did that mean that it wouldn’t happen? maybe never, or then? There seemed to be no hope that she would read this complex phrase, but Levin looked at Kitty as if his life depended on her understanding what was written. And Kitty understood. Also, in only the first letters, she answered him and asked him to forgive and forget everything that was said then. They agreed that tomorrow he would come to ask for her hand. Levin calculated “that fourteen hours remained until the appointed time when he would see Kitty again and be united with her forever. He couldn't be alone, he needed to talk to someone to forget about time. First, Levin went with his brother to a meeting of some commission, then he went on a visit to Sviyazhsky, who came with his wife to Moscow for the winter. All the people that evening seemed surprisingly kind to him; he did not even notice how strangely Sviyazhsky’s wife and her sister, who were tormented by his visit, were looking at him.

Levin did not sleep all night, came to the Shcherbatskys’ house twice, at seven in the morning and at ten, although he knew that he could not come earlier than twelve. Kitty also did not sleep that night, she was waiting for him and wanted to be the first to notify him and her of happiness, and her parents were happy with her happiness. She bashfully thought about what to tell him, but when she heard that he had come, she ran out to meet him, without hesitation, trustingly put her hands on his shoulders and kissed him. The princess transferred her feelings to practical matters: to bless and announce the marriage, to prepare the dowry for the wedding. At first, Levin was painfully struck by this practicality, but he looked at Kitty, who did not find anything surprising in her mother’s words, and realized that nothing could overshadow his happiness, so, probably, this was the way to do it, and he submitted to the necessary and happy wedding chores. The only difficult event of that time for Levin was the revelation of his unadorned soul to Kitty. Levin adored Kitty, had her as a model of all virtues, so he considered it necessary to tell what was so tormenting: his unbelief and his innocence. With the prince's permission, he gave Kitty his diary to read. Levin's disbelief excited her little, because she knew his soul, and if this state is called disbelief, then it makes no difference to her. But his second confession made Kitty cry for a long time. And she forgave him, which made Levin appreciate his happiness even more.

Returning to his lonely hotel room, Karenin remembered with grief Daria Alexandrovna’s words about Christian forgiveness. He knew that in his case this was not at all suitable, and decided not to think about his wife anymore, but to concentrate on official matters. They brought him two telegrams. The first caused outrage because it announced that his rival had received the position that Karenin himself had set his sights on. This indignation was not caused by the fact that he was bypassed - he was offended because no one wanted to see the insignificance of his opponent. With a feeling of annoyance, he opened the second telegram, so he did not immediately understand its contents. This telegram was from Anna. She asked to come and forgive her before her death. At first, Karenin decided that this was a deception that she resorted to to avoid a divorce. But then, remembering her pregnancy, I thought that, perhaps, in a moment of suffering, anticipating possible death, she really repented of what she had done. Alexey Alexandrovich decided to go to St. Petersburg and see with his own eyes what was happening: if his wife was healthy, then leave her with calm contempt; if she really was dying, observe the rules of decency. He was ashamed to admit that he wanted her dead. The house was in disarray, Karenin sensed it immediately. He was informed that Anna had given birth, but her condition was very serious. In Anna's office he saw Vronsky, who was sitting with his face in his hands and crying. Seeing Anna's husband, he jumped up, then, shocked, he sat down and stood up again and began to say that Anna was dying, that the doctors did not give any hope. Without listening to him, Karenin entered his wife’s bedroom. Anna not only did not look sick now, but was in a great mood. She spoke loudly and clearly, but her conversation sounded more like delirium. She talked about her husband, how wonderful and worthy he was, how he would forgive her. Anna did not hear how they told her that the man had arrived, that he was here, next to her. She herself saw him from her delirium and recoiled as if from a blow, but said that she was not afraid of him, but of death. Anna asks to forgive her everything and give her hand to Vronsky. Karenin experienced a mental shock when he saw Anna's suffering. The Christian law, which he wanted to follow all his life, required him to forgive, but now he did not think about the law. True love for his enemies and sincere forgiveness were born in his heart. He gave his hand to Vronsky and could not hold back the tears that flooded his face. Anna lost consciousness again and fell into a fever.

For three days Anna struggled with death, awaiting the end at every moment. At midnight she lost consciousness, her pulse was almost stagnant. Vronsky went home that night, and returned in the morning to find out Anna’s condition. Alexey Alexandrovich met him in the hallway and led him into the office, in case she wanted to see him. When the fourth era began, the doctors said that there was hope. On this day, Alexey Alexandrovich entered his wife’s office, where Vronsky was sitting, and asked to listen to him. He spoke about the feelings that possessed his soul to return to St. Petersburg, about the divorce that he almost began, about the fact that he wanted Annie to die. But now he prays to God not to take away his sincere forgiveness, now he sees his duty in being close to Anna. Karenin told Vronsky that he would not contradict him, and even if the whole world laughed at his devoted husband, he would not leave Anna. Vronsky did not understand Alexei Alexandrovich’s feelings, but felt that it was something unattainable in his current worldview.

Having left the Karenins, Vronsky could not understand where to go. He felt that he had never loved Anna as much as he did now, and that he had lost her forever. He did not sleep for three nights and, returning home, tried to sleep. But sleep did not come, again and again Alexey Vronsky remembered everything that Karenin said, and shame choked him. Vronsky opened the window because he couldn’t breathe, and suddenly realized that there were only two options in his condition: go crazy or shoot himself out of shame. He closed the door, took the revolver, stood for a few minutes, again remembering his humiliation, and fired. He fell and realized that he had missed his heart, he reached for the revolver, but did not get it and lost consciousness. His servant was so frightened that he left Vronsky to bleed and ran for help, and only an hour later the doctors and his brother’s wife Varya arrived, who remained to look after him.

Already two months after Alexey Alexandrovich returned from Moscow, he felt that new shocks awaited him, which would not allow him to be in a state of spiritual joy, love and compassion. His current position seemed completely natural to him, but he felt a brute force that guided his life and did not want to put up with his peace of mind. He felt that a relationship with Anna would primarily cause him new pain. She was still sick, but she was not threatened with death; now she was afraid of her husband: the greatness of his soul emphasized the depth of her fall. Alexey Alexandrovich unexpectedly treated his wife’s little daughter, who was also named Anna, with special tenderness. At first, when Anna was too sick, he looked after the girl because there was no one else, and if not for him, the girl would probably have died. But then he truly fell in love with her. At the end of February the girl fell ill. Alexey Alexandrovich ordered a doctor to be called and returned home from his ministry. First of all, he went to the children’s rooms, because he heard that the girl could not calm down, although the doctors said that there was nothing wrong. With the governess and mother, Karenin discusses the causes of the girl’s illness, making sure that the nursing mother has enough milk for the girl. When the girl finally fell asleep, he remained near her crib and, admiring her, smiled.

At this time, Princess Betsy is visiting Anna, who came to arrange a meeting between Anna and Vronsky before his departure to Tashkent after recovery. Karenin heard a conversation about this when he approached his wife’s room, and her answer that this meeting was impossible. This is exactly what Anna says in the presence of her husband. Karenin is grateful to her for her trust, but feels that Anna is doing it through force. Karenin went out to see Betsy, who again asked him to allow Vronsky to come to Anna. According to his years-practiced habit of speaking politely, with dignity, he corresponds to Betsy, that Anna herself will decide whom she will accept, but he feels that the power, the embodiment of which Betsy was now, does not recognize his right to dignity, does not understand him. He returned to Anna and saw that she was crying, although she was trying to pull herself together. She is in an irritating mood because her feelings for Vronsky have not died, she was struck by the fact that he shot himself because of her. But Anna is again forced to give up her personal happiness. Alexey Alexandrovich talks about the girl’s illness, about the mother’s lack of milk, but all this depresses Anna even more. It seems to her that the man is reproaching her, she feels that she cannot overcome the feeling of physical disgust that he evokes in her. Anna burst into tears. Karenin felt that something needed to be changed in his relationship with his wife, that she and the world were expecting decisive action from him, but he could not understand what. From this feeling of peace in his soul was destroyed, he felt how anger was born. He was even ready to agree to the resumption of his wife’s relationship with Vronsky, so as not to ruin the fate of the children, not to give Anna up to the shame of his wife without marriage, and not to lose what he loved so much. But Alexey Alexandrovich felt powerless and knew: he would be forced to do what they all considered necessary. Betsy, coming from the Karenins, ran into Oblonsky, who came to thank her for the new rank and settle Anna’s family affairs. Betsy says that Karenin puts pressure on Anna, not understanding that she cannot play with her feelings, that it would be better if they parted. Oblonsky assimilates this thought of peace. He comes to his sister and sees her depressed state. Anna says that there are people who love for their shortcomings, but she hates her husband for his virtues. Stiva begins talking about divorce as the only way to end the difficult relationship between the spouses. Anna does not believe in this possibility, so Oblonsky undertakes to talk to her husband.

Stepan Arkadyevich was rarely embarrassed, but upon entering Alexei Alexandrovich’s office, he felt that he was ashamed in front of this man. He had just begun the conversation when Karenin approached the table and took an unfinished letter in which he wrote in detail everything that Oblonsky was going to say. There was no reproach in the letter, only a request to tell him what steps he should take to make Anna happy and calm. Oblonsky advises not to show the letter to Anna, because then she will not be able to say anything, once again feeling the greatness of his soul, she will only comprehend the depth of her fall. Oblonsky is sure that Karenin himself must decide whether to file for divorce or not. Alexey Alexandrovich resisted this in his soul as much as he could, caring about the children, about Anna herself, but could not stand it and agreed.

Vronsky's wound was dangerous for several days; he was between life and death. But the first thing he said when he came to his senses was that the shot was accidental and he had no intention of killing himself. Vronsky himself felt that this act seemed to wash away shame and humiliation from him. After some time, he fell into the groove of his usual life. Serpukhovsky came up with an appointment to Tashkent, and Vronsky agreed. Before leaving, he wanted to see Anna, but Betsy was unable to fulfill this diplomatic assignment. On the second day, she sent a message received through Oblonsky that Karenin agreed to the divorce, so Vronsky could see Anna. Discarding all secular prejudices, he immediately rushed to Anna. She returned his feelings passionately. Anna said that she would not accept the generous divorce that her husband was giving her. Vronsky was amazed that right now she could think about divorce, about her son. Suddenly Anna began to cry, wishing she had died.

A month later, Karenin was left alone with his son. Vronsky refused the appointment to Tashkent and retired. Anna refused the divorce, which was shameful for her husband, and went abroad with Vronsky.

PART FIVE

Levina and Kitty were preparing for the wedding, which they decided to speed up in order to make it before Lent. Princess Shcherbatska was annoyed with her future son-in-law because he could not give her a simple answer: would he agree to divide the dowry into two parts and receive a larger one after the wedding, because in such a short time she would not have time to prepare everything. Levin was still in such a state of elation that he could not think about anything material at all and did not understand what was being sought from him. He was even shocked at first by Kitty’s mother’s worries about completely earthly things, but when he saw that his beloved perceived this as completely natural things, he calmed down, but still did not believe his happiness. After the wedding, Stepan Arkadyevich advised him to go abroad, and Levin was very surprised when Kitty decided to go to the village. Kitty knew that Levin had a business in the village that he loved. And although Kitty herself did not understand this, she considered it very important. She knew that after marriage their home would be where business awaited him, and she wanted to go to where this home would be. Stepan Arkadyevich reminded Levin that before the wedding he needed to cook and confess, otherwise the wedding would be impossible. It seemed unbearable to Levin to deceive now, when he felt so happy. But he endured this too. When during confession the priest, according to custom, asked whether he believed in God, Levin sincerely replied that he had the sin of doubt. The old priest did not convince him, but reminded him that in the marriage for which he was preparing, he would have children, and he should now think about how to answer their questions about the structure of the world, so as not to harm young souls. Levin felt extraordinary relief when the fasting and confession were over; he was especially pleased that he had not cheated in church.

Adhering to all the rituals, Levin was forbidden to see Kitty on the wedding day before the wedding. He dined at home in the company of unmarried men, who, according to custom, raised the young one. Everyone was sure that on this day the young man regretted the freedom he was losing. But no matter how much Levin listened, he felt only joy in himself that Kitty would be his wife. When the guests left, he again thought about what they said, and felt fear and doubt, Kitty loves him. He decided to go to Kitty and ask again whether she really agreed to this marriage, whether it would be a mistake, and whether everything should not be stopped now. Kitty was not expecting him and was very surprised by Levin's appearance. His doubts hurt her and she burst into tears. A few minutes later they made up, Kitty assured Levin of her love, and he, having calmed down, went home.

The wedding was scheduled for the evening. All the guests had already gathered in the church and were waiting for the young people, who for some reason were late. Surprise grew among the guests. I had already been waiting for half an hour for news of the groom’s arrival at the church and Kitty. But Levin couldn't be there. At this time, he, not yet dressed, walked nervously in his hotel room, and Stepan Arkadyevich calmed him down. An absurd mishap occurred: the servant was preparing to leave and sent all of Levin’s clothes to the Shcherbatskys, leaving only the clothes intended for the wedding, but he forgot about the shirt. And now Levin was forced to wait until the shirt was delivered. Stepan Arkadyevich reassured me as best he could, sent me to buy a new one, and in vain, because it was Sunday and all the shops were closed. Horror and despair seized Levin when he remembered what he had said in the morning and what Kitty might think about his lateness. Finally the shirt arrived, and a few minutes later Levin was running down the corridor. The wedding made a strange impression on Levin, at first he was very worried and understood almost nothing, he could not even take the bride’s hand correctly, but he looked at Kitty, and he felt happy and scared, as if he had heard the words for the first time Holy Scripture about marriage and was amazed by their deep meaning. For Levin and Kitty, the wedding was a real sacrament, and when it was over, the young people felt that they were now united forever.

Vronsky and Anna traveled around Europe. For some time they decided to stay in a small Italian town. Anna felt happy, and this happiness was so great that she did not repent of anything.

Memories of her husband and farewell to her son seemed to her bad dream, from which she woke up. She fell even more in love with Vronsky and saw only beautiful features in him, and when she looked for flaws, she could not find them. Vronsky, on the contrary, having received what he so desired, did not experience happiness. In the early days he enjoyed freedom, but over time he felt that he had nothing more to desire, and this lack of desires gave birth to boredom. He could not have fun, as usual in his Parubotsky state, because it painfully affected Anna, and he could not maintain social relations through the uncertainty of their status. One day Vronsky met with Golenishchev, with whom he once studied in the Corps of Pages. Golenishchev, unlike Vronsky, immediately abandoned his career, retired, and tried to find another occupation. Now he was working on a new article about Byzantine culture and its influence on Russian culture. Vronsky himself, out of boredom, went through a lot of activities, now he tried to draw, having had the ability for this since childhood, he even began to paint a portrait of Anna and also a picture on a historical theme, but he treated his painting as entertainment.

During the time that they traveled with Anna, Vronsky became accustomed to evaluating people through their attitude towards her. Golenishchev had lived abroad for a long time and was glad to meet his compatriots; he treated Anna in the same way as most well-mannered people, that is, he avoided hints and questions, pretended that he understood and even approved of her actions. Somehow Vronsky received Russian newspaper, which told about the Russian artist Mikhailov, who now lived in the same town, was in poverty and was already for a long time worked on one painting, selflessly devoting himself to his work. Vronsky asked Golenishchev if he had seen Mikhailov’s painting. Golenishchev spoke long and tediously about the plot of the painting, saying that the artist himself is a bright representative of new people, wild and uneducated, who have no authority because they know nothing about them. Vronsky wanted to see the painting and order a portrait of Anna from the artist in order to support him financially. All three went to Mikhailov's workshop.

The unfinished painting did not make an impression on Vronsky and Anna, nor did the artist himself, who did not have refined social manners. However, they really liked it small painting, which depicted the native Russian landscape and boys fishing. Vronsky decided to buy this painting. Mikhailov immediately realized that this refined society had come to the studio for entertainment, and did not expect that they would be able to appreciate his art, but he rejoiced at every comment that proved that they at least understood something in the painting. He agreed to paint a portrait of Anna and was able to reveal in it all the originality of her beauty so that it seemed to Vronsky that he had always seen precisely this beauty, and fell in love with Anna for it. Vronsky had artistic taste and realized that his own painting lessons were useless.

Deprived of even painting lessons, Anna and Vronsky began to get even more bored and decided to go to Russia, to the village.

It was already the third month of Levin's married life, and he was happy, although not at all as he had hoped. Before his marriage, it seemed to him that family life gave only the joys of love, that he would work as before, and for his wife’s happiness it was enough just to love her. But this was not enough for Kitty, she wanted to feel like a real mistress of her new home. Levin was a little offended to see how poetic Kitty was sincerely preoccupied with everyday trifles, but he loved her and thought that she was sweet, even when she was giving meaningless instructions to the old cook, managing the pantry, eliminating old Agafya Mikhailovna. It was so unlike his ideal of poetic happiness, but gave his young wife a new attractiveness. Levin also did not expect that disputes would arise between him and his wife: they did not yet know each other well, did not know what pain caused each of them, which in a state of love They overreacted, and only in the third month of their life did things become a little calmer.

One day Levin sat down to work on his book, which he had not yet begun to write after his marriage. This work of his still seemed important and useful to him. Kitty sat next to him, and he felt her presence with joy. Suddenly he felt that Kitty was looking at him, and took a break from work, then the mail arrived, and Kitty called him to read the letters. Levin reproached himself for not working enough, for indulging his wife, for not being able to spend more time on the farm. Mentally he blamed Kitty, not realizing that soon a woman’s hard work would fall on her shoulders: to be the mistress of the house, and to bear children, and to raise and educate them. Kitty had a presentiment of this and therefore hurried to enjoy the serene happiness of love. When Levin arrived, Kitty was reading a letter from Dolly, and she handed him an illiterate letter from Maria Nikolaevna, the former mistress of Nikolai’s brother. Levin blushed with shame when he received this letter. Maria Nikolaevna wrote that she was living with his brother again and that Nikolai would probably die soon. Levin decides to go to his brother. Kitty asks him to take her with him. It seems to Levin that Kitty will be superfluous there, that this is just her quirk and reluctance to remain alone in the village, that she has no place next to Maria Nikolaevna. Kitty replied that she belonged where her husband was. They quarreled again, and Levin was forced to come to terms with Kitty's decision.

The hotel in the provincial town where Nikolai died lived up to Konstantin Levin’s worst expectations. When he brought his wife to the dirty room, the feeling of annoyance with her increased even more: instead of taking care of his brother, he would have to take care of Kitty. Maria Nikolaevna was waiting for him at the door. Hearing her husband's conversation with her, Kitty looked out into the corridor, which made Levin blush with shame. He hurried to his brother. No matter how Levin prepared for the terrible sight, what he saw was more terrible than any terrible pictures that arose in his imagination. He barely recognized his brother in the half-dead body, and the stench and dirt in the room were disgusting. Konstantin said that he had arrived with his wife, and with relief he left the room, as if for Kitty. But he told his wife that it was better for her not to see her brother. She begged to be allowed to go to Nikolai, assuring that she could be useful. Levin was scared to think about what was happening to his brother, he was afraid of death and believed that nothing could be done. Kitty, seeing the state Nikolai was in, began vigorous activity. She knew what to do because she had seen such sick people when she was at the waters. When Levin returned with the doctor, he did not recognize Nikolai’s room: by order and with Kitty’s participation, everything had been washed, his brother was lying on clean pillows, in a clean shirt, calling Levin’s wife Katya and saying that if she had looked after him, he would have long ago recovered. Kitty understood Nikolai and his desire better than anyone, because she completely forgot about herself, and only thought about how she could still help him. She invited the priest, Nikolai performed unction, after which he seemed to feel better. Levin told Kitty that he was very grateful to her for going with him.

The second day Nikolai became worse; he pestered everyone with the irritable whims of a hopelessly ill man who envies the healthy. He suffered terribly, and everyone who saw his suffering also suffered, they wanted it all to end quickly. Even Levin was no longer afraid of death, but was waiting for it. On the tenth day after arriving in the city, Kitty fell ill. When she already had the strength to come to the patient and said that she was unwell, he smiled contemptuously. That same night Nikolai died. A feeling of horror at the inevitability of death gripped Levin, but the fact that Kitty was nearby gave rise to an irresistible desire to live and love. She saved him from hopelessness and despair. And before Levin had time to think properly about the mystery of death, the mystery of life appeared before him: Kitty was pregnant.

Ever since Alexey Aleksandrovich Karenin understood from his conversation with Betsy and Stepan Arkadyevich’s explanations that he was only required to leave Anna alone and not disturb her with his presence, because that’s what she herself wanted, he felt confused and did not understand that must do. For the first time, he put himself into the hands of those who dealt with his affairs, and did not deny anything. Only when Anna left his house and the Englishwoman sent to ask if she could now dine with him at the same table, he came to his senses and for the first time realized his position. He was so amazed that he could not connect and reconcile his past and present, he could not reconcile his recent forgiveness and touching, his love for his sick wife and someone else’s child with the way they had now treated him: he found himself alone, dishonored, ridiculed, useless to anyone amid the contempt of strangers.

For several days he maintained a calm and even indifferent appearance, received visitors, the manager of affairs, went to the committee, but felt that everyone treated him with contempt precisely because of the misfortune that befell him. There was not a single person to whom he could tell what was in his heart, for he did not have a single friend. He could not bear this burden of lonely pain, he could no longer see people. One day, when Alexey Alexandrovich was in a particularly depressed mood and ordered not to receive anyone, Countess Lydia Ivanovna entered his office. She admired the new religious movement that had gained popularity in the high world and which Alexey Alexandrovich treated with great restraint. Now the Countess came to console Karenin, and her words, full of mystical content about the higher will that guides the actions of people, found a response in Karenin’s soul. Lydia Ivanovna decided to help him run the house and raise his son. She immediately got down to business: she went to Seryozha and said that his father was a saint and his mother had died.

While still a young girl, Lydia Ivanovna was given in marriage to a rich, noble, kind and dissolute husband, but two months after the marriage he left her, although no one knew why they never officially divorced.

From that time on, the couple lived separately from each other. Court and social concerns did not prevent Lydia Ivanovna from being in love with someone all the time, but only now, when she began to study Karenin, did she realize that those loves were not real. She maintained her role as a sympathetic friend, but wanted to please him; more than once Lydia Ivanovna mentally wished that she was unmarried and Anna died. She began to dress more elegantly to please him. This love was noticed in the world; they did not talk about it, but treated the countess’s friendship with Karenin ironically. Lydia Ivanovna knew that Vronsky and Anna had arrived in St. Petersburg, and was not very surprised when she received a letter from Anna in which she asked to facilitate her meeting with her son. Lydia Ivanovna felt that it was her time to take revenge on Anna for her misfortune as a woman. She sent the messenger who came with a letter without any answer, and she herself wrote a note to Karenin, in which she hinted at an important matter for him, and asked him to come for tea. On this day, Karenin received another order and was in a better mood than usual. It seemed to him now that, freed from the responsibilities of family life, he would be able to work and be useful to society; the new order seemed to confirm such reasoning. But Alexey Alexandrovich did not notice that his career was already over, no one listened to his opinion anymore, and when he proposed something new, it seemed to everyone that this was exactly what should not be done. Lidia Ivanovna drove along it when Karenin was greeted on the occasion of presenting the award. Neither he nor she paid attention to the mocking glances thrown at them. Lidia Ivanovna took Karenin to her place, told him that Anna was in St. Petersburg, and showed him a letter from Anna to her. Alexey Alexandrovich felt pain again, but he immediately recognized Anna’s right to see her son. Lydia Ivanovna, on the contrary, was convinced that this could not be done, and convinced him. She wrote Anna a letter informing her that this meeting was impossible.

Returning home and remembering his wife, who was guilty of everything before him and before whom he was a saint, as Lydia Ivanovna claimed, Alexey Alexandrovich felt remorse. He remembered how he, already an elderly man, without having any special feelings for Anna, wooed her, how he behaved after her declaration of love for Vronsky, and he felt ashamed. He convinced himself that he was not living for a short earthly life, in which he had made minor mistakes, but for the eternal, that he had peace and tranquility in his soul. And he forgot what he didn't want to remember.

Both the father and the teacher were dissatisfied with the way Seryozha studied. He was a capable boy, but did not want to learn what the teachers taught. From the time he was told that his mother died, he closed his soul from everyone, did not believe in the possibility of death in general, and least of all in the death of his mother. He was still a child and needed love, and not the very demands that adults made. He looked for his mother on walks; it seemed to him that she was next to him when he fell asleep. On the eve of his birthday, he seemed to recognize his mother in a woman he saw in the garden, but she suddenly disappeared among the alleys. In the evening, the boy prayed that tomorrow, on his birthday, she would stop hiding and come.

Returning to St. Petersburg, Vronsky and Anna settled in the best hotel, where they rented beautiful rooms, but lived separately on different floors. Vronsky did not notice any difference in his attitude towards the world, even his mother greeted him, as always, without mentioning Karenina a word. For Anna, the world was closed. The wife of Vronsky’s brother, who left Alexei after attempting to kill himself and who greatly valued his friendship, refused to host Anna, citing public opinion, the fact that she had daughters growing up and this visit would damage their reputation. This struck Vronsky painfully, as did the unexpected change in Anna’s mood after her arrival in St. Petersburg. It seemed that something was tormenting her, but not at all the attitude of the world towards her, which so poisoned Vronsky’s life. Anna was now only worried about meeting her son, she felt that Vronsky would never be able to understand her suffering, for this she was afraid to hate him, so she did not say anything, but looked for ways to see and talk with her son. She decided that on her son’s birthday she would simply go to her husband’s house and do everything to see her son, to break the wall of deception with which they blocked him from her. Anna planned to arrive so early that Karenin would not get up yet, and at least be alone with her son for a while.

The old doorman was at first surprised by the early visit, because he did not recognize her, but when he recognized her, he rushed to take her to Seryozha’s room, to which he had been transferred after his mother’s departure. Anna entered the room when Seryozha had just woken up, and he did not immediately realize that he was not dreaming of her, but when he realized, he was incredibly happy. Anna recognized and did not recognize her son, he had changed, but it was her Seryozha, she cried and laughed at the same time. Meanwhile, there was a commotion in the house, all the servants already knew that the mistress had arrived, and something had to be done to prevent Alexey Alexandrovich from meeting her, for the time of his visit to the children’s room was approaching. The old mother, who came to congratulate her pet on his birthday, rushed to the nursery to warn Anna. However, she herself already felt that it was time to leave, but she could not get up, could not move, she had so much to say to her son, but the words did not come to mind. When the mother came in and said something quietly to Annie, her face changed; on it Seryozha read fear and shame, which he could not understand, but felt that by asking him about it, he would cause her even more pain. He just leaned close to his mother and whispered that his father would not come soon. Anna realized that Seryozha was tormented by how he should treat his father. She said that her father was better and kinder for her, that Seryozha would judge when he grew up. But the boy desperately grabbed her shoulders, trying not to let go. Anna stood up when she heard Karenin’s steps. Seryozha fell on the bed and cried. Seeing Anna come out of the door, Karenin stopped and lowered his head. She never had time to get and give to Seryozha the toys that she had chosen for him with such love and sadness just yesterday.

The meeting with her son amazed Anna. Returning to the hotel, for a long time she could not understand why she was here. Anna felt complete loneliness, she didn’t want anything, couldn’t think about anything. They brought her little daughter, Anna played with her a little, but did not feel in her heart even a fraction of the love that she felt for her son. She gave the girl to the nurse and sat down to sort through Seryozha’s cards. Among these cards was Vronsky's card. Just looking at her, Anna remembered him for the first time that day and sent to him to ask him to come. Anna mentally reproached him for leaving her alone with her suffering, forgetting that she herself had not said anything about a meeting with her son. Now she wanted to make sure of his love for her, she came up with words with which she would tell everything that was in her heart. But Vronsky said that he had guests and asked if he could come to her with Prince Yashvin. It seemed to Anna that Vronsky was avoiding meeting alone. She preened for a long time, as he, having fallen in love with her, could fall in love again if she wore a dress that especially suited her.

When Anna went out into the living room, Vronsky was looking at her son’s cards, and Yashvin carefully examined her. Anna talked briskly with Yashvin and even invited him to dinner. Vronsky went about his business and, when he returned for lunch, did not find Anna at the hotel. This confused him; he felt that something was happening to Anna, but could not understand her behavior. Anna returned accompanied by her aunt, the old Princess Oblonskaya, who had a bad reputation. Dinner was already served when Tushkevich appeared with an order from Betsy. She invited Anna to her place precisely at a time when no one would be there. Anna did not seem to notice this, but said that she would not be able to arrive at the appointed time. Tushkevich suggested that Anna get a box in the theater, where all the refined society gathered that day. Anna decided to go to the theater, Vronsky tried to stop her, for the first time feeling annoyed that Anna did not seem to understand her position in society. He asked her not to go, hinting that this could cause her pain, and the company of Princess Oblonskaya would only emphasize her downfall, but Vronsky could not speak openly about this. Anna, with cheerful anger, declared that she did not regret anything and that the only thing that mattered to her was whether they loved each other. When Anna left, Vronsky mentally walked the same path as her: he seemed to see how she took off her fur coat, how she entered the hall, how the destructive glances turned towards her. He felt embarrassed that he left her at such a moment, and it was a shame that she made him feel such feelings, so he also went to the theater.

Vronsky did not go into Anna’s box, but watched her from a distance. He saw that something happened between Anna and the lady who occupied the next box, because she got up and walked away, and Anna pretended not to notice anything. Varya, her brother’s wife, told Vronsky that this lady said something offensive to Annie. Vronsky rushed to Anna, who noticed that he had missed the best aria and did not want to talk to him anymore. In the next act, Vronsky saw that Anna was not in the box. He rushed home and found her in despair. He felt sorry for her and at the same time offended. He convinced her of his love, because he saw that only this could calm her down, although his words were so hackneyed that it was a shame to even utter them, but from these words Anna calmed down. The second day, having made peace, they went to the village.

PART SIX

Daria Alexandrovna came for the summer with her children up to her sister Kitty Levina. Stepan Arkadyevich was happy about this, because the house on their estate had completely collapsed, and Oblonsky himself remained in Moscow, only sometimes coming to the village for a day or two. In addition to the Oblonskys, Kitty’s Mother, who could not leave her daughter in such a state, Varenka, Kitty’s resort friend who fulfilled her promise to come to the married Kitty, Levin’s brother Sergei Ivanovich, visited Levinyh. Almost all the rooms of Levin's spacious house were occupied, and Kitty experienced a lot of household troubles. Levin felt a little sorry for their evenings together, but he happily watched how his wife liked it all and endured it.

One day, when everyone was animatedly discussing where to go mushroom picking, Varenka was also getting ready with the children, Sergei Ivanovich, Levin’s brother, expressed a desire to also go with them. Dolly and Kitty exchanged instant glances: it seemed to them that Sergei Ivanovich was in love with Varenka and was going to confess today. After dinner, when the women remained on the terrace, conversations began between them about the possible marriage of Koznishev and Varenka, then they remembered how they had confessed. We remembered Vronsky and his courtship of Kitty. Dolly said how happy it was for Kitty that Anna came then, and how unlucky it was for Anna herself. The old princess called Anna a worthless woman because she could not forgive her that Kitty did not marry Vronsky.

Sergei Ivanovich really liked Varenka, he admired how she picked mushrooms surrounded by children. He noticed her joyful and excited smile. But he decided not to succumb to the momentary mood, but to think it over, and retired to the forest. Koznishev thought for a long time, recalled the feelings that he experienced in his early youth, and compared them with what he was experiencing now. Having weighed everything, he decided to confess, because in this girl he saw all the qualities that he had not seen in others: she was sweet, smart, not spoiled by the world, although she knew him well and knew how to stay among such people, she did not strive for social entertainment , besides, she - it was obvious - was inclined towards him, he saw it. True, he was somewhat bothered by the opinion of his age, but he remembered how she said that in Europe, men of about forty still consider themselves guys. He was already mentally repeating the words he wanted to tell her when he approached her and the children. The girl felt that this was a decisive moment, that there was no need to talk now about something that did not concern their relationship, but as if involuntarily she began to talk about mushrooms. He was offended. They were silent for several minutes and again felt that it was either now or never to speak. Varenka’s heart was pounding in her chest: being the wife of a man like Sergei Ivanovich, and even after her humiliated position with Madame Stahl, was real happiness, and besides, Varenka was convinced that she was in love with him. Sergei Ivanovich repeated to himself the words that he had come up with for confession, but unexpectedly for himself he also started talking about mushrooms. After these words, both he and she realized that there would be no recognition. Kitty, who went with Levin to meet the mushroom pickers, only looking at the faces of Varenka and Sergei Ivanovich, realized that her hope for a marriage between them would not come true.

That same evening they expected the arrival of Stepan Arkadyevich and Kitty's father, old Prince Shcherbatsky. But Steve brought with him Vasilko Veslovsky, a distant relative of the Shcherbatskys, a secular young man who felt at home everywhere. Levin was offended that this stranger and superfluous person had arrived. His mood worsened even more when he saw Veslovsky gallantly kissing Kitty’s hand. All the guests now seemed terribly unpleasant to him. When he saw Oblonsky kissing his wife’s hand, he thought about whom Stiva had kissed with those lips just yesterday, about how Dolly did not believe her husband’s love, but rejoiced at his arrival. He didn’t like the fact that Kitty’s mother invited Vasilko Veslovsky to her house; He was unpleasantly struck by how friendly Sergei Ivanovich greeted Oblonsky, whom he did not respect; it seemed to him that Varenka was only thinking about how to get married, and therefore was putting on an air of calm submission. But most of all, Kitty, who was carried away by the general mood of fun, caused him a feeling of grief.

Kitty saw that something had happened to her husband, but had no opportunity to talk to him alone, because he left the company and went to the office. After dinner it was even worse; Levin did not hear Veslovsky talking about his visit to Anna, who lived nearby on Vronsky’s estate, but he saw that this conversation was very exciting for Kitty, and through jealousy he interpreted this excitement in his own way. When Kitty and Levin went to bed, she again tried to talk to her husband, but he did not answer her questions. Kitty told what Veslovsky was talking about, and Levin felt ashamed and scared that, through his jealousy, their happiness depended on everyone who looked at her. Kitty and Levin reconciled; he even jokingly said that he would leave Veslovsky for the whole summer and would be very kind to him.

In the morning, almost all the men - Levin, Oblonsky and Veslovsky - went hunting. The first day was not very successful for Levin: like a hospitable host, he gave best places guests, but he didn’t shoot much himself. When Veslovsky finally invited him to go hunting, and he stayed with the horses, it became even worse: he drove into a swamp and the horses were barely pulled out. In general, there were a lot of worries with Vasilko Veslovsky: either he drove the horses too hard and couldn’t carry one horse the second day, then he let Oblonsky go at night to listen to the singing of the village girls, and in the morning Levin could not wake up the restless guests and set off himself. When he returned, he did not find anything for breakfast, because Vasilko had a good appetite in the fresh air. But all this did not irritate Levin; he was a hospitable host. However, upon returning home, he saw that Veslovsky was caring for Kitty, and she did not have the experience to prevent this. And Levin again becomes furiously jealous, again Kitty makes excuses for him, she cries, remembering how happy they were when no one bothered them. Then Levin went to Dolly and asked if it was really courtship, or if it just seemed to him. Dolly, laughing, replied that there was a little, and even Stiva noticed it. Levin suddenly became cheerful and said that he would now throw this tramp out of his house. Dolly, horrified, asks not to do this, says that they can come up with something to peacefully get rid of Veslovsky. And Levin doesn’t listen, he simply goes to Vasilki and reports that the horses are already harnessed and that it is time for the guest to ride railway. Stepan Arkadyevich and the princess were outraged by Levin's action. He himself felt guilty, but when he remembered how much Kitty had suffered, he knew that he would do this again if someone dared to disturb her peace.

Daria Alexandrovna fulfilled her intention to go to Anna; she considered it necessary to prove that, despite the change in society's attitude, her feelings for Anna had not changed. Although Levin and Kitty did not want to maintain relations with Vronsky, Levin was indignant when he learned that Daria Alexandrovna had decided to hire horses in the village. He prepared everything necessary for the trip so that she could be transported in one day, even sending a clerk instead of a footman for her safety. At home, taking care of the children, Daria Alexandrovna had no time to think. But now, dear, she changed her mind about her whole life, and it seemed to her that all the years of married life were terrible: pregnancy one after another, childbirth, feeding the children, their illnesses, the death of the baby, her husband’s infidelity and nothing more. Daria Alexandrovna thought about the children, about their future, about the money that was lacking now and would be even more lacking in the future. She concluded that her life was ruined. Then I remembered Anna and decided that I did the right thing, because I wanted to live and love. Dar' I Alexandrovna even imagined myself in her place.

In such thoughts, I drove up to the road that led to Vronsky’s estate. Riders rode towards them, among whom was Anna; her grace and beauty again amazed Daria Alexandrovna. Daria Alexandrovna felt a little ashamed of her old carriage, her outfit, her face dusted with dust. Anna was very happy to see Dolly and got into her carriage. However, the conversation did not go well; it seemed impossible to express everything that was on my mind in such a short time. Anna only said that she was very happy, that Alexey Vronsky is a wonderful person, he works a lot, and showed new buildings: a house for employees, a stable, a hospital, which he built, just to prove to Anna that he was not a stingy, but an economical owner. Vronsky's house made a strange impression on Daria Alexandrovna: everything here was new and luxurious, like in expensive hotels. Anna led the guest to the children's room, which also amazed with its luxurious equipment, but Dolly noticed that Anna did not often visit this room; she did not know where the toys were, or even how many teeth her little daughter had. Dolly didn’t like either her mother or little Anya’s nurse, who obviously received little attention. In general, the environment in which Dolly found herself confused her. She felt that she pitied Anna, although she theoretically understood and even approved of her action. All Anna’s vital forces were now aimed at retaining Vronsky’s love. She changed clothes several times a day, trying to gather and maintain at least some company so that Vronsky would not be so bored. The guests of the house, Vasilko Veslovsky, who was kicked out by Levin, Tushkevich, the former lover of Princess Betsy, Sviyazhsky, who needed something from Vronsky, Princess Varvara Oblonska, who was always a parasite of rich relatives - everyone only took advantage of the opportunity to have fun and without worries time, but Anna was glad to have such guests.

The whole day was spent in entertainment, so Anna put off the conversation with Dolly until the evening. During the walk, Vronsky chose a good moment to be alone with Dolly and began a conversation that excited Dolly and made her question Anna's happiness. Vronsky asked Dolly to influence Anna and force her to write a letter to Karenin demanding a divorce. Dolly agreed because she understood Vronsky’s feelings: his daughter and the children they may still have, according to the law, will bear the surname Karenina. Only late in the evening, before going to bed, Dolly and Anna had a frank conversation that revealed the full depth of Anna's unhappiness. Dolly felt that it was not only that the world had turned its back on them, Anna suffered from separation from Seryozha, but did not transfer the full power of love to her little daughter, moreover, she did not want to have more children, because it would cause damage her beauty and could distract Vronsky from her. Anna loved her son and Vronsky equally, only she needed them, and she knew that she would never be able to unite them, and if so, then the rest did not matter. When Dolly lay down in bed, she could not bring herself to think about Anna, although while she was talking, she felt sorry for her, but the memories of the house, of the children now acquired somehow a new, beautiful meaning. She decided to go home tomorrow. Anna, returning to her room, took her medicine, a significant part of which was morphine, sat for a while, calmed down and went into the bedroom in a good mood. Vronsky waited for Anna to tell about her conversation and Possible Solution ask the man for a divorce, but Anna only asked what impression Dolly made on him. He noted her kindness, but considered her too unpoetic.

The next morning Dolly went home. As they said goodbye, everyone felt that the hosts and the guest were not suitable for each other and that it was better not to meet again. Anna was sad, she understood that now no one would touch that part of her soul that she touched in a conversation with Dolly, and although these touches were painful, Anna knew that this was the best part of her soul, her life, which there was no return .

The dear cab driver unexpectedly began a conversation with Daria Alexandrovna and noticed that they were given little oats for the journey, even though they were rich, but at Levin’s, they say, they give as much as the horse will eat, and, as if to sum up, he noted that it was boring on Vronsky’s estate .

Vronsky and Anna lived all summer on a rural estate; the divorce case did not progress because no one did anything about it. They decided that they would not go anywhere for the winter, but already in the fall, when the guests left, they felt that they could not stand such a life. It seemed that everything was for happiness: well-being, health, a child, and interesting activities for everyone; Vronsky took care of the household and the estate. Anna read a lot, lived by his interests, studied from books what he was doing, and he consulted with her on various issues, even agronomic, horse riding; she was interested in the new hospital and did a lot for it. But most of all, Anna was interested in herself - how dear she was to Vronsky, how much she could replace for him everything that he left for her. Vronsky appreciated her devotion to his interests, her desire to devote her life to him, but over time he began to feel that her love, like nets, was entangling him; he did not want to break out of them, but wanted to check whether they were interfering with his freedom.

In October, provincial noble elections were to take place. Sviyazhsky had already given his consent, but he tried to persuade Vronsky to take part in them, even picking him up the day before. This trip caused a quarrel between Anna and Vronsky. As cold as ever, he announced that he intended to go, and expected a stormy scene from her, but Anna took this news outwardly calmly, as if she had withdrawn into herself and did not allow anyone into her inner world. Vronsky was afraid of this, but he so wanted to avoid the scene that he pretended not to notice anything and trusted her prudence. Vronsky left, for the first time in their entire relationship without finding out her needs and requirements for him. At first this worried him, but then he decided that it was better this way; he couldn’t give her his male independence.

In September, Levin moved to Moscow to give birth to Kitty. He lived for a whole month without anything to do, when his brother Sergei Ivanovich offered to go with him to the elections to that provincial city, where Levin, in addition, had matters regarding the guardianship of the estate of his sister, who lived abroad. Levin hesitated, but Kitty saw that her husband was bored in Moscow and insisted on this trip, even ordering him a new noble uniform, which became the decisive argument. For six days Levin attended the noble meeting and was busy with his sister’s affairs, but could not understand either what was happening at the meeting or why his sister’s business was not progressing: they promised him something, they agreed on something with him, but there was no end to it was. Sergei Ivanovich explained to him the meaning and significance of the change in the chairman of the provincial nobility, but Levin was still offended that for the sake of this it was necessary to question the integrity of the current chairman, whose honesty no one doubted. These political games were incomprehensible to Levin, and he became even more disillusioned with any official social activities. During the election, he met Vronsky, whom he had not seen since the evening when he confessed to Kitty so unsuccessfully, and whom he was still jealous of her. Levin tried to avoid a relationship with Vronsky. But his friend Sviyazhsky, Stepan Arkadyevich Oblonsky, is also present at the elections, and they pulled Levin into a conversation in the presence of Vronsky. Levin's critical views on the zemstvo and its activities seemed strange to Vronsky. Vronsky himself, trying to fulfill his duties as a nobleman, saw meaning in his activities, although he came to the elections only because he was bored in the village and needed to demonstrate to Anna his rights to freedom. The elections captured him; thanks to his wealth and nobility, he was popular among the nobles, and the victory of the new chairman of the provincial nobility was largely possible thanks to his, Vronsky, support. The elections reminded him of the excitement of the race, and he decided that when he was married in three years, he would try to stand for election himself.

During a dinner held in honor of the victory of their candidate, Vronsky was brought a letter from Anna, in which she informed that their little daughter was ill, that Anna did not know where he was and when he would return, that she intended to come to the city, but realized that he it will be unpleasant. Vronsky was struck by the hostility that was felt in the letter, the contradiction in Anna’s intentions. But he took the first train home. Anna was waiting for him and, feeling guilty about that letter, was nervous. The daughter really got a little sick, but had already recovered by the time Anna wrote the letters, which even hurt her. Hearing that Vronsky had arrived, she forgot all her worries, all that mattered to her was that he was here, next to her. The evening passed in the presence of Princess Varvara lively and at ease, Anna asked about the elections and with her questions gave Vronsky the opportunity to talk about what was very pleasant for him - about his success. But late in the evening Anna asked how Vronsky reacted to her letter, and he replied that he was offended that Anna did not want to understand that he had matters that could not be solved while sitting at home, for example, he would soon have to go to Moscow . Anna firmly decided to go with him. Vronsky, with a pleasant smile, assures her that he only dreams of never being separated, but in his gaze Anna sees something completely different: anger at her, alienation and a premonition of misfortune.

Anna agreed to write a letter to her husband and ask him for a divorce. Waiting every day for an answer from Karenin, they came to Moscow and settled together as spouses.

PART SEVEN

The Levins had already been living in Moscow for two months. The expected delivery date had long passed, but Kitty was still pregnant, and there were no more signs that this event would happen soon than there were two months ago. Everyone was worried, only Kitty was calm and happy, because everyone she loved was close to her and cared for her. She felt in herself new life and already loved the unborn child. One thing spoiled her feeling of happiness: her husband had become completely different from the one in the village that she knew and loved. There, in the village, he was constantly busy with something, calm and gentle towards everyone. Here, in the city, he was wary, restless, always in a hurry somewhere, as if he was afraid to miss something, but had no occupation that would require his soul. He was not interested in secular entertainment, and Kitty, looking at Oblonsky, did not want him to be attracted to them. Levin tried to write his book, but the more he talked about it, the less interested he was in it. Surprisingly, in the city there were no longer those disputes between them that often arose in the village, the jealousy that they were afraid of. One day, during a visit to her godmother, she met Vronsky. Only at the first minute, when she recognized him in a civilian suit, did she lose her breath, but the old prince who accompanied Kitty spoke loudly to Vronsky and gave his daughter the opportunity to control herself. She said a few words to him, even smiled at his joke about the elections, because she had to smile to show that she understood the joke. But during this short conversation, Kitty felt the invisible presence of her husband, and it seemed to her that he would be pleased with her behavior. When she told her husband about her meeting with Vronsky, Levin blushed more than Kitty. But he looked into her truthful eyes and realized that she was pleased with herself, that she behaved properly at this meeting, that all her feelings for Vronsky were in the past, that memories of this past did not cause her pain. Levin cheered up and admitted that he was offended by the feeling that there was a person, almost an enemy, with whom it was difficult to meet, and promised Kitty to be more kind to Vronsky in the future.

Levin took a long time to get used to life in the city; he did not understand why go on visits to people who are indifferent to you and to you, why harness a couple of horses to a heavy carriage when the walk was very close, why hire a cab when you have your own horses, and etc. Once Kitty said that she had very little money left and regretted that she had listened to her mother and moved to Moscow. Levin looked at her with displeasure, but she knew that this discontent was not about her, but about himself. Levin did not expect that life in Moscow would require such money. When he exchanged the first hundred rubles, he calculated how many useful things he could buy with this money for his agriculture, and how many workers he could pay with it. When the second hundred rubles came, and then the third and beyond, Levin no longer counted anything. Now he knew that he needed money, but did not know where to get it. This time Kitty also spoke about the financial affairs of her sister Dolly and conveyed to Levin her mother’s request to sit down with Stiva along with her sister Nadezhda’s husband, Lvov.

Levin was traveling to see his university friend, now professor Katavasov, who promised to introduce him to the famous scientist Metrov, whose sociological article Levin really liked. In it he experienced much in common with what interested him. But when Levin tried to present his theory, Metrovaya did not let him finish, did not hear the arguments that, in Levin’s opinion, confirmed it, but began to present his thoughts as the final truth, which is beyond doubt. At first Levin wanted to finish his talk, but then he realized that he and Metrov saw the same subject completely differently, so they would not be able to understand each other. Now he just listened, he was pleased that such a famous scientist was speaking to him as an expert in such scientific issues. He did not know that Metrov had already talked to everyone who could listen to him about this, something that was not entirely clear to him.

Then Levin, together with Katavasov and Metrov, went to a meeting of the scientific society, to which they were in a hurry, and after that he again invited Metrovay to talk about the book that Levin was working on. But the meeting, the conversations that were going on around them, made a strange impression on Levin: it seemed to him that he had heard all this many times, and he himself could only repeat what he had already said. He refused to go to Metrovaya, but went to the husband of his wife’s elder sister Arseniy Lvov, a former diplomat who had lived abroad all his life and had now retired to educate his children. Levin knew him little before, but on this visit he became closely acquainted and became friends with Arseny, despite the difference in age. Levin bowed his head before Lvov because he sincerely considered his sons to be examples of correct moral education and wanted his own children to have such virtues. He openly told Lvov about this in a conversation. Therefore, it was nice to hear such an assessment of his work, but he also frankly says that there is still a lot, a lot of work. Lvov’s wife does not agree with him, she is sure that it is impossible to achieve the ideal, that one cannot devote oneself only to children, that in the end this harms them themselves. Levin understands that this is not the first time this conversation has arisen between the spouses, and he is very interested in listening to her and communicating with the Lvov children. But Nadezhda reminds that Levin was going to go with her to listen to the concert. Only when he said goodbye to Lvov, he remembered the assignment that Kitty gave him regarding Stevie. Both Lvov and Levin are embarrassed that they have to talk about money and probably hurt Stevie. Everything Levin did that day made him feel as if he understood nothing about their city life. And to understand, he had to stop being himself.

He went with his wife's sister to a concert and wanted to make own opinion about the music that he listened to, but could not do it, he felt “like a deaf person who looks at those who dance.” He decided to turn to music experts, but they only interpreted what was written in the concert program and could not explain to Levin what he did not understand. Levin also expressed several trivial thoughts; he was a little ashamed of this, especially since he had said some of them earlier. Then he remembered the visit that Kitty asked him to make and which he completely forgot until he saw the count, who was destined to make this visit. Sister Kitty advised me to go now, expressing the hope that they were no longer accepting. But Levin was accepted, he spent the allotted time in someone else’s living room, not knowing well what to talk about, he got up several times, trying to go, but the hostess’s eyes eloquently said that it was not time yet. Then Levin took Lvov to Kitty for lunch, found her cheerful and went to the club, where old Prince Shcherbatsky signed him up for lunch.

The atmosphere of the club was so different from all the impressions of that day that Levin succumbed to it and received true pleasure from the pleasant company of people happy with their lives. Stepan Arkadyevich sat next to him, they drank and ate with pleasure. After lunch, Levin saw Vronsky, who was congratulated on the victory of his horse in the imperial race. Oblonsky decided it was necessary to introduce Levin to Anna on the same day. Vronsky noticed that Anna, undoubtedly, would be very glad to see and talk with Levin, that he, Vronsky, would go with them now, but he had to stay here to restrain his friend, to prevent him from losing a lot at cards. Levin and Stiva then played billiards and cards. Levin was glad to have a break from the morning's intense mental work; Having paid forty rubles, which he lost at cards, for dinner at the club, he went with Stiva to Anna.

A feeling of peace, satisfaction with life and the integrity of everything that was happening left Levin when the carriage shook on a bad road, and through the window he saw taverns and shops. For the first time he asked himself whether he was doing well in going to Anna, and what Kitty would say to this. Dear Stiva talked about the case of Anna’s divorce, in which Karenin did not give any answer, for which Anna’s position was even more complicated, she did not have the opportunity to be in the world, and none of the women, except Dolly, visited her. Levin expressed the opinion that she must be very busy raising her daughter. To this, Stiva remarked that not all women are mother hens, that Anna, of course, is involved in education, but, in addition, she has interests; She takes care of an English family, which was left in a difficult situation after the death of the former horse trainer Vronsky from drunkenness, and even took the girl in to raise her. She is trying to write and has already given Stevie a children’s book, which he gave to a famous publisher to read and received an approving review.

When Stiva and Levin arrived, Anna was busy talking with this publisher. Before seeing Anna, Levin saw an amazing portrait of a beautiful woman and even forgot where he was, did not listen to what was said, only when the living Anna turned to him, was forced to tear himself away from the portrait. She struck him with her similarity to the portrait, although in life she was not so bright now, but she attracted him with new features that were not in the portrait. In the manner of communicating with guests and conducting a conversation, Levin saw real sophistication and aristocracy. Anna spoke not just rationally, but as if she did not attach any importance to her words, but first of all, giving the interlocutor the opportunity to express his opinion. Never before had any intelligent thought expressed by him brought Levin such satisfaction as now. The conversation revolved around contemporary art, and about education and upbringing - and all the judgments had a deep meaning. Levin noted in the character of Anna rice, which he valued in people - truthfulness. She did not hide the complexity of her situation, but she carried her love with dignity. Levin suddenly felt tenderness and pity for this woman. He did not notice how time flew by in communication with Anna, and when Stiva got up to leave, it seemed to Levin that he had just arrived. And on the way home he never stopped thinking about Anna.

At home, letters were waiting for him from the estate (that they were giving very little for wheat and now it was unprofitable to sell) and from his sister, who reproached him for the fact that her case had not yet been resolved. Levin, with surprising ease for him, decided to sell wheat cheaply if there was nowhere else to get more money. He was ashamed in front of his sister, but he assured himself that there was no opportunity to devote more time to the matter. Kitty was sad and bored. Levin told her his whole day: what he had done, where he had been, and that Stiva had introduced him to Anna. He conveyed his impressions of Anna, and Kitty seemed to take everything calmly. But when Levin, having changed his clothes, returned to the room, he found Kitty in tears. She reproached him for falling in love with Anna, and assured him that tomorrow he would go to the village. He had to admit that the feeling of pity, combined with the wine he drank, had such an effect on him that Anna made a special impression on him. He sincerely admitted that life in Moscow, the lack of activity, and the availability of only dinners and conversations made him simply stunned.

Anna unconsciously, as now almost always in the company of young people, sought to charm Levin. But as soon as he left, I forgot about him. She was waiting for Vronsky and trying to understand why he was becoming more and more indifferent to her, because everyone, even this respectable, intelligent and devoted Levin, admires her. Anna frankly told herself that all her activities, her English family, reading and writing books were all just a deception, a desire to forget reality, like morphine, which she was increasingly taking. She felt sorry for herself and began to cry. But when she heard Vronsky’s call, she opened the book, trying to look calm. There seemed to be a struggle between her and Vronsky, and each of them did not want to understand the other and submit. When Vronsky talks about the evening at the club, Anna seems to reproach him not for leaving her for a friend, but for the fact that he ultimately left him to lose money. But Vronsky understands well that Anna does not want to recognize his right to freedom, that the most important thing for her now is to force him to admit his guilt in the very desire to desire something else other than her love. Therefore, he accepts her challenge and says that he stayed in the club because he wanted to: Anna calls this stubbornness in the desire to be the winner in the fight with her for his masculine independence. Almost crying, she says that she is afraid of herself when she feels his hostility; her sincere despair forces Vronsky. throw himself at her feet again. Anna tried to hide the joy of defeating him. But after just a few minutes at dinner, Vronsky became colder towards her, not forgiving her victory. And Anna, remembering that this victory was brought to her by words about the terrible misfortune that she could inflict on herself, understood that this weapon was dangerous, that it could not be used at least again. She felt that the evil demon of struggle could not be overcome by their love.

If three months ago Levin had been told that he, living an idle life, wasted money aimlessly, maintaining friendly relations with a man with whom his wife was once in love, he himself, having become enchanted by another woman, which caused such pain to Kitty, would be able to sleep peacefully, he would never have believed it. But after a long conversation and reconciliation with Kitty, Levin fell soundly and calmly into sleep. He woke up in the middle of the night because he felt that Kitty was not next to him, and she entered the bedroom, said that she felt a little bad, but it had all passed, lay down next to him, and he fell fast asleep again. After some time, Kitty herself woke him up - labor began. Looking at his frightened face, she tried to calm her husband. Levin got dressed in a hurry and wanted to run to the midwife, but stopped, looking at his wife. All that was best in her, all that he loved her for, all this was now revealed to him in her sweet and dear face. Kitty came up to him and pressed herself against him, as if she was looking for protection; he saw that she was suffering, and did not know who was to blame for his suffering. Her eyes told him that she did not blame him, but was happy to endure this suffering.

As soon as he left the room, she heard a pitiful moan. Suddenly, Levin loudly turned to God and asked for his mercy. Having been anxiously awaiting childbirth for several months, he prepared to lock his heart for several hours, silently endure suffering, in order to be useful to Kitty and support her. But he didn't know what awaited him. During the first hours he had work to do, he had to bring a doctor, get the necessary medicines from the pharmacist, and although their indifference and slowness painfully struck Levin, he felt that Kitty was needed and was helping her. But all the deadlines that he had assigned to his patience had already passed, and Kitty still suffered. He lost his sense of time: it seemed to him that an eternity had passed since that morning, and then he was very surprised when the midwife ordered him to light a candle, because he did not notice how evening had come. He didn't remember what he did or who spoke to him. He didn’t even want a child, he didn’t want his wife to live, when he heard the terrible screams of the one who had once been his Kitty. He just wanted her to stop suffering. When the doctor said that it was all over, Levin understood that Kitty was dying. He rushed to her bedroom. Kitty’s face was missing, but there was something so terrible in its tension, as a scream escaped her. Levin felt his heart breaking. But suddenly the scream stopped, it was all over. Levin felt such happiness that he could not stand it and burst into tears, fell to his knees in front of the bed and kissed his wife’s hand. The midwife said that the child was alive and that it was a boy.

In the morning, Prince Shcherbatsky, Stepan Arkadyevich and Sergei Ivanovich sat with Levin, talking about Kitty, they discussed various issues. Levin listened to them as if at some height when he recalled everything that had happened. Without even listening to the end of the sentence, he went to Kitty. She was lying down and resting. The midwife was busy with the child, Kitty asked her to show Levin her son. He looked at this little body and did not find parental feelings for him in his heart, he felt sorry for this little creature, he did not feel anything cheerful and joyful, on the contrary, there was fear, a new feeling of vulnerability.

Things were bad for Stepan Arkadyevich: everyone had already spent the money for the forest, Daria Alexandrovna, caring about the future of the children, for the first time refused to sign documents on the sale of the remains of the forest, and the salary was not even enough to maintain the house. Stepan Arkadyevich felt that he had to look for new profits, and set his sights on one position that could bring him up to ten thousand a year, without leaving a real place. But this position required such knowledge and abilities that it was impossible to find them in one person, so it was better to put an honest person, like everyone considered Oblonsky. But to take this place, it was necessary to go to St. Petersburg, ask for two ministers, one influential lady and two Jews. In addition, he promised Anna to get an answer from Karenin in the matter of divorce. Oblonsky begged Dolly for money and left.

Sitting in Karenin’s office and listening to his projects, Stepan Arkadyevich was waiting for an opportunity to talk about divorce. Stiva agreed that the system of patronage interfered with the common cause, the public good, and, as if remembering something, he asked the Pomeranian to put in a word for him, on whom the appointment to the position depended. Karenin was surprised to note that, in his opinion, the appointment to this position depended on Bolgarinov. Blushing, Stiva said that everything had been agreed upon with him, and he himself remembered his humiliation when today Bolgarinov forced him, Prince Oblonsky, a descendant of the Ruriks, to wait in the reception room for two hours, and then almost refused his request. Pushing away the memories, he began talking about Anna. Stepan Arkadyevich outlined the situation in which his sister found herself, and recalled Karenin’s generous decision to part with her. But Karenin has changed a lot since Anna left his house. He now states that divorcing his wife is against Christian law and his beliefs, but he will think it over and look for a solution. At this time, they announced the arrival of Sergei Alekseevich, and Stiva did not immediately understand that we're talking about about Anna's son Seryozha. Karenin recalled that the son is never told about his mother, that he was ill for a long time after an unexpected meeting with her. Seryozha looked healthy and cheerful, but when he saw Oblonsky, he blushed and turned away. Stepan Arkadyevich began to ask about his life and took him by the hand, but as soon as he released it, Seryozha, like a bird out of a cage, rushed out of the room.

A year has already passed since Seryozha last saw his mother. Now he was already going to school, and the memories of it receded before new impressions. But when he saw his uncle, who looked very much like her, he remembered his feelings for his mother, which he was now ashamed of. Stepan Arkadyevich caught up with Seryozha on the stairs and started talking with him. In the absence of his father, Seryozha felt freer and talked about school fun. Oblonsky could not resist asking if he remembered his mother. Seryozha blushed, said that he didn’t remember, and didn’t want to talk to his uncle anymore. Only half an hour later the teacher found him and could not understand whether he was crying or angry at someone. Seryozha did not answer the questions, but only asked to give him peace and said this so passionately, as if he was addressing the whole world.

Stepan Arkadyevich felt that living for a long time in Moscow had a bad effect on him. He got to the point where he began to worry about his wife’s mood, the petty interests of his service, and raising his children. But in St. Petersburg life was completely different, and all worries were forgotten. Here, children did not interfere with their parents’ lives; one prince, for example, told Oblonsky that he had two families, legal and illegal, and even introduced his eldest son to an illegal family, considering this useful for his development. Money matters also did not seem to bother anyone; debts were not considered something unusual. And in the service there was a completely different interest: a well-spoken word, a profitable meeting - and a person could make a career. Oblonsky even looked younger in St. Petersburg.

The day after the conversation with Karenin, Stepan Arkadyevich stopped by Princess Betsy, feeling so young that his playful advances towards the mistress of the house went too far, and Stiva himself did not know how to get out of this situation: Betsy liked him and knew it, she not only did he not like it, but it was disgusting. He was very glad that Princess Myagkaya arrived and interrupted their solitude. Princess Myagkaya seems to sympathize with Anna, regrets that she did not know about his arrival in St. Petersburg, otherwise she would have accompanied him everywhere, and asks about her current life. But when Oblonsky tries to talk about Anna’s true situation, the princess does not listen, but rushes to express her opinions about Karenin, Anna, and the world. She says that Karenin, under the influence of Lydia Ivanovna, became interested in a fashionable medium, who was recently brought to Russia, that this medium charmed everyone, that one countess even adopted him and now he bears the name of Count Bezzubov. She said that Anna’s fate now depends on this medium, because neither Lidia Ivanovna nor Karenin decide anything without him.

After lunch, Oblonsky went to Lydia Ivanovna, where Karenin made an appointment for him. The footman informed him that Count Bezzubov had also arrived. Stiva was surprised, but thought that it would be good to get to know Lydia Ivanovna better, because she has influence in the high world, and if she puts in a good word with the Pomeranian, he will have the position he has set his mind on. The hostess introduces Oblonsky to a medium who makes a strange impression on Stiva: his look is both childish and fraudulent. Lydia Ivanovna begins a conversation about the salvation of the soul, about the “new heart” of Alexei Alexandrovich, reads some English text about the path by which faith comes. Oblonsky is trying to understand the essence of the new religious teaching, listens attentively, but everything in his head is confused, and while reading he even fell asleep. The medium also fell asleep, but his sleep does not offend the hostess, but, on the contrary, makes her happy: now he is ready to answer the questions that concern Karenin. It seems to Stevie that the medium only pretended to be asleep. Oblonsky did not have time to make further observations, because the medium, from the depths of his sleep, ordered him to leave the room. Stepan Arkadyevich, forgetting that he wanted to ask Lydia Ivanovna to put in a good word for him, forgetting his sister’s business, tiptoed out of the room and rushed headlong out of the house. On the street he talked for a long time and joked with the cab drivers in order to quickly come to his senses.

The next day, Alexey Alexandrovich Karenin refused to give Anna a divorce.

Although Vronsky and Anna had long ago intended to go to the village, they continued to live in Moscow, and there was no agreement between them. Anna was tormented by the realization that Vronsky’s love was fading, and Vronsky was tormented by remorse that for her sake he had put himself in such a difficult position, which Anna herself was complicating even more. This internal dissatisfaction with each other gave rise to disputes that now happened almost every day. She took every word he said as proof that he loved her less than before. She was jealous of him and could not cope with her irritation against him and the whole world. At times she tried to pull herself together, realizing that such behavior repulsed him. Once, after an argument, Vronsky left home for the whole day, Anna felt lonely, it was hard for her to endure disagreements. She wanted to forgive everything and reconcile with him, so she blamed herself and justified him. She decided to plead guilty, although she did not feel guilty, and ordered the chests to be brought and prepared to leave for the village. Vronsky arrived late, but in a good mood and was glad that Anna was getting ready to go. His self-confident tone, when he approved of her decision, as if she were a child who had stopped being capricious, offended Anna, but she resisted the urge to start a fight. But when he said that he couldn’t go the day after tomorrow because he had to be with his mother, Anna’s eyes were blinded by jealousy. Without any logic, without motivating her demand in any way, Anna declared that she would go either the day after tomorrow or never. They quarreled again and remembered past grievances. But never before have they gone so far in their accusations. Anna expressed the secret pain of her soul: she only wants love, but he is no longer there, so the end of their relationship. Left alone, she thought about where she could go from his house, what her friends would say, but these thoughts did not occupy her soul. Some new thought was born in her, which she could not yet comprehend. She remembered her husband and thought, as then, why she did not die. Suddenly she realized that the new thought was the thought of death. She saw in this the only salvation from shame and disgrace; she imagined how Vronsky would repent, suffer and love her after death. She was distracted from these thoughts by Vronsky, who came to say that he agreed to go when she wanted. Anna burst into tears, Vronsky assured her of his love. Her despair gave way to a burning tenderness for him. On the morning of the next day after the reconciliation, Anna was packing her things, getting ready to leave, and she was indifferent to whether they left on the day she wanted or on another day. But at breakfast they quarreled again. Vronsky received a telegram from Oblonsky, which did not say anything definite about the divorce, and did not want Anna to worry again, so he did not tell her anything. But Anna found out about the telegram and decided that he was hiding his correspondence with women. She again began to reproach Vronsky, this time with the fact that she did not care whether there was a divorce or not, that this was important only for him, love was enough for him. When she talked about love, he involuntarily winced. Anna reproaches Vronsky that his mother wants to marry him, calling her a woman without a heart. Vronsky, who did not really love or respect his mother, demands that Anna speak about her respectfully. Hatred was already shining in her eyes when she pointed out this hypocrisy of Vronsky. Yashvin came, and Anna restrained the storm of her feelings. Yashvin won almost all his money at cards from his friend. Anna asked if Yashvin does not feel compassion for the unfortunate man, Yashvin says that the one who sits down to play with him also wants to leave him shirtless, that this struggle brings pleasure. Before leaving home, Vronsky went to see Anna, but her appearance and cold words did not promise reconciliation. He decided: if she wants to torture herself, then let her torture herself.

When Vronsky returned home, he was told that Anna Arkadyevna had a headache and asked not to be disturbed. Anna heard how he returned, how they told him about her, but she actually wished that he would not pay attention to anything and would rise to her, then she would again believe in his love. But he listened to the maid and didn’t want to know anything else. This is the end, Anna decided. Death as a means of restoring his love, punishing him and at least thus winning appeared to her again. She had taken her now habitual dose of opium, and the thoughts seemed to bring her pleasure. But suddenly she got scared: suddenly a shadow stretched across the entire ceiling, and the light in the room darkened. The candle, having burned out, went out, but it seemed to her that death had come for her. Anna was horrified, lit a new candle and felt that she wanted to live, to love, that this was possible. She got up and went to Vronsky. He was sleeping, Anna looked at him with tenderness, but did not wake him up, because she knew that his gaze would betray his victory, that she would not be able to talk about her love until she proved to him how guilty he was before her. She returned to her room, took opium again and fell into a heavy sleep. She dreamed old dream: that same dirty little man with a beard is doing something with iron and babbling French words, now she felt that he was doing something terrible to her too.

Anna woke up and the whole day yesterday came back to her, but she assured herself that it was just an ordinary squabble. I was about to go to Vronsky to make peace, but I saw through the window how he was kindly talking to a girl in a carriage who was handing him some papers. Everything that happened yesterday brought a new perspective to her: she must leave his house immediately. Anna entered Vronsky to inform him of her decision; he read the letter and said that he was now ready to leave. He saw her despair and decided to calmly say what kind of letter he received: he received the letters and money from his mother, and Princess Sorokina brought him, then he talked with her daughter. But the news about Princess Sorokina struck Anna painfully, and she said that she would not go anywhere tomorrow. He could still have stopped her when she refused to go and was already leaving the room, but he decided not to pay attention to it and left the house. Anna came to her senses and sent him a note, asking for forgiveness, asking him to come because she was scared. She was afraid to be alone and went to the children's room. Her thoughts were confused, she was even surprised that in the nursery it was not Seryozha, but a girl who looked so much like Vronsky. She played with her daughter for a while, but she still resembled her father so much that Anna almost burst into tears and walked away from her. Then the coachman returned with a note, which is why he didn’t find Count Vronsky. Anna sent him again, this time to Vronsky’s mother at the dacha. Then I remembered that I could telegraph him there, and sent a telegram. It was unbearable for her to stay in this house and wait for his answer, so Anna decided to go to Dolly. On the way, she decided that her notes to Vronsky were a mistake, that she herself was giving him victory over herself. Anna decided to tell Dolly everything and not return to his house again. With this intention, she went to Dolly, but she was not alone, Kitty came to her. Sisters discussed feeding little son Levinich and Anna interfered with their conversation. Dolly came out to her herself and said that she had received letters from Stevie that he did not understand what Karenin wanted, but would not return without an answer. Anna read the letter and said that she was not interested and asked why Kitty was hiding from her. Dolly was embarrassed, but assured that this was not so, that Kitty would now feed the child and it would work out. Kitty didn't really want to see Anna, but Dolly persuaded her. Anna's hostility towards Kitty passed away as soon as she saw her face, but she felt compassion and regret in her heart. Anna said that she had come to say goodbye, but did not answer Dolly’s question about when they were driving, and hurriedly left, and Dolly thought that Anna almost burst into tears.

Karenina went home again, she recalled how Kitty looked at her, she herself looked at the people on the street, and they all seemed hostile to her. Then she remembered Yashvin’s words that everyone wants to leave without a shirt, and decided that he was right, that the world is ruled by hatred. At home, Vronsky’s answer to her telegram was waiting for her; he said that he would arrive at ten in the evening. Anna felt the need to take revenge and decided to go to him and tell him everything she thought about him. She looked at the train schedule and made sure she could catch the last one. Then I packed up the things I needed for the first few days, because I knew that I would never return here. And again on the way she saw everything as never before. Anna returned to her last thought about the hatred and hostility of people and for the first time frankly thought about her relationship with Vronsky: what she was looking for in this love, what he wanted. She realized that it was love that fed his arrogance, he boasted of his success. But now Anna has caused not envy, but pity, and his love fades away; hers, on the contrary, becomes even more passionate and selfish. Anna understands that she only wants to be his mistress and does not want anything else, but his similar desire only pushes him away from her, and this causes her rage. She did not want their lives to be bound by duty rather than love, because she understood: where love dies, hatred is born, and her divorce does not change anything in this case.

Anna arrived at the station, the footman bought her a ticket, and she boarded the train. Heavy thoughts came to her again, everything seemed ugly and unnatural to him: men, women, even children. She got off at the station, but could not remember why she had come here, what she wanted to do. Anna decided to ask if the Vronsky coachman was there with a note. She was informed that Count Vronsky had just been here, meeting Princess Sorokina and her daughter. Then the coachman Mikhail, whom she had sent with a note, approached her and filed an answer. Anna just unfolded it and already knew what was written there. He regretted that the note had not found him, but he could not change his plans and would return, as promised, at ten. Anna walked along the platform past the station. People looked at her in surprise, but she did not notice anything. She didn't know where to go. The platform began to shake as a freight train was approaching. It seemed to Anna that she was going somewhere again. Suddenly she remembered the man who was crushed by the train on the day she first met Vronsky. Now Anna knew what to do. She walked down the stairs to the track and stopped next to the train. I stood there for a while, looking at the wheels, trying to determine the middle between the front and rear wheels. Then she crossed herself and, burying her head in her shoulders, fell under the carriage. At that very moment she was horrified by what she had done and wanted to get up, but an inexorable force pushed her and dragged her. She asked God to forgive her everything, feeling that the struggle was no longer possible.

PART EIGHT

Almost two months have passed. Sergei Ivanovich Koznishev only now, in the second half of summer, decided to go to his brother in the village. A year ago, he completed six years of work on a book that he considered a significant contribution to the development of modern political science. The book had already been published, and Sergei Ivanovich expected wide publicity, but time passed, and no one spoke or wrote about his work. Only in one magazine did a feuilleton appear, in which the author selected quotes in such a way that for those who had not read the book (and it was obvious that no one had read it), it turned out that the book was empty, and the author of the book was an ignoramus. Sergei Ivanovich explained this assessment to himself by the fact that somehow in a conversation he corrected the author of the feuilleton in a word that expressed the lack of education of this young man. There were no more reviews of the book, and Sergei Ivanovich felt that his work was in vain.

During this difficult time for him, the Slavic question and the Serbian war became acute in society. He saw that these questions were becoming fashionable, that many people were dealing with them out of self-interest and vanity, but he also recognized growing enthusiasm and sympathy for the suffering of his Slavic brothers. He was captured by manifestation public opinion, in which, Sergei Ivanovich believed, was the soul of the people. He, too, devoted himself to serving this great cause and forgot to think about the book. Now he was going to relax and fully enjoy the manifestations of that national spirit, in the existence of which the residents of capitals and large cities were convinced. Katavasov was traveling with him, who decided to fulfill his long-standing promise to come to Levin. They arrived at the Kursk station almost simultaneously with a group of volunteers who were going to the Serbian war. Ladies with bouquets saw off the volunteers, and a farewell dinner was held for them. And Koznishev, to whom a lady acquaintance approached to ask to help the guy whom Lidia Ivanovna recommended get on the list of volunteers, heard the overly solemn words that one gentleman said at dinner, after drinking champagne. Stepan Arkadyevich approached Koznishev, he liked this general excitement, and his eyes shone with joy. He asked Koznishev to also say a few words to the volunteers, but he refused, explaining that he was at this send-off completely by chance - he was going to see his brother. Stepan Arkadyevich asks to convey his regards to his wife, who lives with her children in Levinykh in the summer. Seeing a lady who was collecting donations, Oblonsky gives five rubles and goes to look for Vronsky, who, as it turns out, is also going to war. The lady with whom Koznishev was talking asks him to also talk to Vronsky, guessing that it will be unpleasant for him to see Oblonsky. Stiva, having watched over his sister’s coffin, had already completely forgotten everything and saw in Vronsky only a hero who was also carrying with him a whole squadron, equipped with his money. He was saying something animatedly to Vronsky, not very much despite his stern expression on his face.

Koznishev entered the carriage, and the train started moving. Katavasov did not have the opportunity to observe the volunteers and kept asking questions about them. Sergei Ivanovich advised him to go into their carriage and make his own observations and conclusions. Katavasov met the volunteers, but they made an unfavorable impression on him: one was a rich merchant who had squandered his wealth at the age of twenty-two, and now, having drunk, he boasted of his heroism; the second, a retired officer, tried everything in his life, he also spoke a lot and inappropriately; the third, a man already in years, had only the rank of cadet, because he failed the artillery exam. Katavasov wanted to check his impressions and listen to someone else’s opinion.

During the stop, Koznishev, at the invitation of Countess Vronskaya, entered her compartment. The Countess could not forget the terrible tragedy that happened to her son, and told Koznishev about it. Vronsky wrote a note to Anna, not knowing that she was at the station. After some time, news arrived that some lady had thrown herself under the train, Vronsky’s coachman was there and saw everything. Vronsky galloped to the station, and from there they brought him as if he were dead. The Countess does not regret Anna at all, but even after her death she reproaches her for ruining two wonderful people - Vronsky and Karenin. After Anna's death, Karenin took her daughter to him, Vronsky is now tormented by the fact that he gave his daughter to a stranger. And, says the countess, God helped - the war began, Yashvin lost everything at cards, got ready for Serbia and persuaded Vronsky to go with him. As a mother, the countess, of course, is scared, and besides, in St. Petersburg they don’t really approve of volunteers, but there is no way out, only this made her son a little happy. The Countess asks Koznishev to talk to him, because, as luck would have it, his teeth also hurt.

Sergei Ivanovich found Vronsky on the platform, where he walked like an animal in a cage, returning every twenty steps. It seemed to Koznishev that Vronsky was pretending not to see him, but this was indifferent to him, because at that moment Sergei Ivanovich saw in Vronsky only a figure in a great cause and considered him obliged to support him and approve. Koznishev offers him recommendations for leaders of the Serbian liberation movement, but Vronsky refuses: in order to die, recommendations are not needed, except for the Turks, he said, smiling only with his lips. Sergei Ivanovich says that the participation in the war of a person like Count Vronsky will raise the prestige of volunteers. Vronsky frankly replies that his life is worth nothing, that he will be glad if someone needs it. At this time, he looked at the wheels of the tender, and a completely different pain made him forget about the present. He remembered how he saw Anna’s body on the table in the railway barracks, the expression on her face, as if even after death she was saying that terrible word - “you will regret it.” He tried to remember her as he had met for the first time, also at the station, mysterious, loving, the one who was looking for and giving happiness, and not cruel in her revenge, which she thought of as last minutes. But he only remembered her threat to take revenge, which she carried out. Vronsky burst into tears and walked along the platform, then, pulling himself together, returned to Koznishev and talked a little more about the events of the Serbian war.

Koznishev did not inform his brother about his arrival, so when they got to the estate, Levin was not at home. Kitty sent for him, asked Dolly and old Prince Shcherbatsky to entertain the guests, and she ran to feed her little son Mitya. While she was feeding, she thought about her husband, that he would be consoled by the arrival of guests, that he had changed recently, his thoughts were not as oppressive as in the spring, when she even feared for him. Kitty knew what oppressed her husband - his unbelief. Kitty knew and loved his soul, but his doubts and his lack of faith in her, who was deeply and sincerely devoted to the Christian faith, did not cause pain. She thought with a smile about his disbelief and told herself that he was funny. She was glad that Katavasov, with whom Levin loved to talk and argue, had arrived. Her thoughts turned to housekeeping matters, where to put the guests to sleep, what to lay, etc. Then she remembered that she had not thought through something important about her husband, and again with a smile she remembered that he was an unbeliever, and thought that it would be better for him to always be like that than to be a believer like Madame Stahl.

Kitty received new proof of his kindness and nobility of soul recently: two weeks ago Dolly received a letter from Stepan Arkadyevich, in which he repented and asked to sell her estate to pay his debts; Dolly was in despair, hated her husband, wanted to break up with him, but in the end she agreed to sell part of the estate; Levin, embarrassed, for fear of offending Dolly, offered to give Kitin part of the estate to his sister; Kitty herself did not think of doing this. Therefore, with all her heart she wanted her son to be like his father.

From the time Levin saw the death of his beloved brother, he was truly tormented by terrible doubts. The materialistic views, which he became a supporter of in his student years and adhered to at that time, did not provide answers to the most important questions of life and death. He felt like a man, exchanged his warm fur coat for thin clothes, went out into the cold in it and was convinced that now he must inevitably die. Marriages, his joys and new worries lulled these thoughts a little, but the birth of his son became a new impetus for them. Levin observed people, both those who believed and those who did not, and came to a strange conclusion. Those who did not believe were not tormented by such questions, they simply discarded them and looked for answers to questions that did not interest him. Among those who believed were people close to him, whom he loved: old Prince Shcherbatsky, Sergei Ivanovich, and Lvov believed. Kitty believed as he himself once did in childhood, ninety-nine percent of the Russian people believed, whose life evoked such respect in Levin. During the birth of his wife, he, an unbeliever, prayed and believed at that moment, but everything worked out, and doubts again gripped him. He read philosophers, read theologians, but did not find the answer in them either. Levin could not live without knowing who he was and why he came into this world. But he could not know this and fell into despair. Therefore, happy in the family, healthy man, Levin was on the verge of suicide several times, hid the rope so as not to hang himself, and did not carry a gun so as not to shoot himself. However, none of this happened, he continued to live.

When he stopped asking himself all these questions, he seemed to know who he was and what he lived for. After returning to the village, Levin had so many worries and troubles that he left his farming projects for the common benefit, and did what he considered necessary. He managed so that his son would thank him, as he thanked his grandfather. Sergei Ivanovich did not abandon the affairs of his sister, and all the peasants who went to him for advice, just as he would not have abandoned a child to the mercy of fate, cared for his wife’s sister, who was invited with the children for the summer, etc. All this filled Levin's life, which made no sense when he thought about it. He was tormented by doubts, but firmly followed the path of life.

On the day when Sergei Ivanovich arrived, Levin was precisely in that frame of mind when everything was questioned. He carried out his usual household duties, but did not want to think about the futility of all human efforts in the face of death. He saw that one of the workers was not fiddling with the threshing machine as he should, and he himself began to work. Then he got into a conversation with this worker and asked him if the good owner Fokatić would undertake to cultivate Levin’s land in the village where this mercenary was from. He replied that he probably wouldn’t take it because he wouldn’t make any money from it. Levin wondered why the current tenant, Kirillov, was benefiting. The worker’s answer amazed Levin: Fokatich lives for God, feels sorry for people, and does not think only about his stomach, like Kirillov. Levin was surprised that he, who could not imagine God, just like no one else could, understood what this worker wanted to say and said. Kirillov’s life is understandable and reasonable, because all rational beings live for the “stomach,” but such a life is bad, because one must live for the soul. From a logical point of view, this was nonsense, but Levin understood these words in his soul. What amazed him was that he was able to understand and agree with something that was not subject to logical interpretation. And when he asked himself why he was able to understand, he had one answer: goodness exists beyond the limits of reason, it is eternal, they believe in it because they feel in their souls the need to love people. Reason discovered the struggle for existence, but it could not discover that one must love people, because it is stupid.

Levin felt that he had finally seen the miracle that he required in order to believe in the existence of God. Everything turned upside down in his soul, he felt that he could believe, and thanked God for this faith. He was in such an excited and high spirits when he saw his cart and coachman that Kitty sent for him because his brother had arrived. For a long time Levin could not recover from the experiences that lifted his soul. It seemed to him that now all relationships with people would be completely different, illuminated by goodness. He got into the cart and began to drive it himself. When the coachman wanted to help him get around a stump on the road and pulled the saddle, Levin got angry. He became very sad that his mental mood did not change his attitude towards reality.

Levin met the guests, accompanied by Dolly and the old prince, on the road; they went to the apiary, thinking that he was there.

Levin tries to overcome the alienation in his relationship with his brother, but does not have the power to do this. The conversation turns to the Serbian war, and Sergei Ivanovich sees the participation of volunteers in it as a manifestation of the national spirit. Levin, who has just discovered the spiritual support of the people in the good, notes that war and murder cannot be a manifestation of the spirit. He is supported by the old Prince Shcherbatsky. But Sergei Ivanovich and Katavasov present arguments that Levin cannot refute, although even less can he agree with them. He says that those who go to war are those who have lost a decent social condition, who have nowhere else to go, and people at all times in society who don’t care - to Pugacheva, to Serbia. And Sergei Ivanovich calls them the best sons of the people, who painfully perceive the suffering of their Slavic brothers, and also cites an expression from the Gospel that Jesus brought into this world not peace, but a sword. Levin was annoyed with himself that again he could not resist and began to contradict his brother. He saw that this argument was unpleasant for Sergei Ivanovich, as if he was defending the last thing he had left, so Levin stopped it.

Everyone was returning from the apiary when the thunderstorm began. The children and Dolly barely had time to run home when the first drops fell. Kitty and the child went into the forest, because it was very hot in the house, and did not have time to return before it rained. Levin, grabbing the sheets, rushed towards the forest. It seemed to him that he could already see them, when lightning blinded him, and when he could see again, he saw with horror that a large oak tree was falling and heard a crash. He ran with all his might and prayed to God that the tree would not fall on them. And although out of habit he had time to think that there was no point in praying now that the tree had already fallen, he could not think of anything better. Levin found them at the other end of the forest and attacked his wife, reproaching him for his carelessness. Kitty and the mother held an umbrella over the child's cart, Mitya was dry, unharmed and slept through the entire storm. Returning home, Levin, remembering his annoyance, guiltily squeezed his wife’s hand.

After dinner, everyone was in a good mood and did not argue anymore. Katavasov made everyone laugh with his stories, Sergei Ivanovich taught complex issues so simply and interestingly that everyone listened to him. Only Kitty had to leave the pleasant company, because she was called to bathe her son. Then Kitty invited Levin there to see and rejoice at his son’s success - he began to recognize his own people and was especially happy about Kitty. This caused delight not only in the mother, but also unexpectedly in Levin. Kitty noticed that she was very glad that a man was beginning to love his son. Levin admitted that it was only during a thunderstorm, when his son was in danger, that he realized how much he loved him.

Coming out of the nursery, Levin did not rush to join general group where it was fun. He stopped under the starry sky and again indulged in his thoughts. But now there were no painful doubts of the soul, although many questions arose before him. Now for him the obvious evidence of the appearance of God was the existence of the laws of good. He realized that you can’t say everything in words, you just need to believe. Kitty came up, he wanted to say what happened to his soul, but he thought that this secret of his faith would remain in him, it did not need to be expressed in words. The new feeling did not change him as he expected, but, like love for his son, it firmly entered his soul through suffering. Life acquired a new wonderful meaning for Levin - goodness.

The novel “Anna Karenina” begins with a quote about happy families that are alike. Tolstoy was interested in something completely different: every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
All stories begin with the Oblonsky family. Their family is facing divorce. The quarrel began with the fact that Stiva cheated on his wife Dolly with another woman, namely the governess, and she found out about it. All spiritual ties that had ever connected them disappeared between them.
Their divorce could have had a colossal impact on all the residents of the Oblonsky house, that is, this whole mess had certain consequences that affect those who were not even involved in the quarrel. This situation very similar to a stone falling into water. Where he fell was quiet and calm, but in the area of ​​the incident there were rustling and rustling circles. In this novel, such a “pebble” is Stiva Oblonsky.
The entire novel consists of two storylines. The first one tells about the life of Anna Karenina. The second storyline tells about the next main character - Konstantin Levin.
Since childhood, he has known the Shcherbatsky family, in which three daughters were raised. Previously, the family had a son, but already at the beginning of the novel it is said that he died. The eldest daughter is Dolly, who was mentioned. The youngest, Kitty, is the lover of the main character, Levin. Almost nothing is said about the third.
Levin, although he had a large profit, lived in the village, because he did not like large crowds of people and believed that in the village people were kinder than in big cities. Levin arrived at the Shcherbatsky estate on the day before the ball that this family was organizing. He visited Kitty and asked her to marry him, to which Kitty responded negatively. Although she struggled for a long time, choosing who exactly she needed and who she wanted to see as her groom. As a result, she, perplexed about her choice, listened to her mother’s advice.
The youngest daughter of a large family already had a lover, Alexei Vronsky, and believed that he would propose to her at the ball. Offended and offended, Levin returns to the village, continuing to suffer from unreciprocated love. But before his unexpected departure, he visits his brother Nikolai. He is very sick, although he does not stop drinking alcohol in large quantities. As a result, life brought him to the point where he lives in a small room with a woman he met in a brothel. Despite what his brother has become, Konstantin loves him and offers his help.
At the request of Stiva's brother, the main character of the novel of the same name comes to Moscow. But this is the only thing he did to improve his relationship with his wife. He continued to live an ordinary life. Sleep peacefully, eat with appetite, read the newspaper with interest, admire yourself in the mirror, admire yourself in the mirror. Dolly behaves absolutely, she is very unhappy.
Karenina left St. Petersburg and her son for the first time after marriage. She spent the entire journey with Count Vronsky's mother, and they both told each other about their beloved sons and admired them. Anna desperately wanted to see Vronsky in person and compare him with the image in her head that she had drawn up from her mother’s stories. When they met at the station, Vronsky realized that this woman was special, different from everyone else. Vronsky was one of Stiva’s many friends, and while they were waiting at the station for the train to arrive, he told Vronsky a lot about his sister.
At that time, a tragedy occurred at the station. The man who fell under the train made a depressing and terrifying impression on Anna Karenina and, on top of everything, greatly influenced her future life.
Anna Karenina was able to influence Dolly and persuade her to forgive her husband. Stiva is not going to say goodbye to his past life and accept the role of a sincere and decent husband. Although the reader should notice that Stiva began to treat his wife better as he realized how much she loved him.
Kitty, having met Anna Karenina, noticed in her an extraordinary woman, a strong, confident and devoted wife. Naturally, after such an acquaintance, Kitty set an example for herself and tried in every possible way to imitate Anna.
At the ball, Vronsky paid a lot of attention to Karenina, for which she was embarrassed in front of Kitty. There, those around them began to realize that a spark had broken out between them.
After the ball, Karenina, with a heaviness in her soul, leaves the free life that she liked and returns home to her unloved husband. IN early age Anna married a wealthy and not very attractive man. In other words, by calculation. They had a son, Seryozha. She respected her husband, but believed that he was like a robot: his day was clearly planned out in minutes and seconds.
It was terribly difficult for Vronsky to part with Anna, and he followed her to St. Petersburg. Kitty, in turn, was struck by Vronsky’s insensitivity, as well as by the meanness and tactlessness of Karenina, towards whom she sharply changed her mind. After everything that happened, she was very upset, sad, and was very sick for the last year. The mother was initially against marriage with Levin; she believed that he would not be able to give his daughter such wealth as Vronsky. On the contrary, the father respected Levin very much and considered him the best match for his daughter.
In St. Petersburg, communication between Karenin and Vronsky became more and more heated. She tried her best to avoid him, but she failed. He followed her everywhere and, wherever she came, he was present at the same evenings and dinners. Not only Karenina, but the whole society began to notice this.
After some time, Anna succumbed to Vronsky’s influence and became his mistress. She stopped respecting herself after that and felt very guilty before her husband and son Seryozha. She wanted to leave Karenin, leave him, since he stood in the way of her happiness, but she could not leave her son because she would not be happy without him, under any circumstances.
Levin continues to live an ordinary life. Despite everything, he has a good income, communicates with villagers and workers on equal terms, and even enjoys the hard work of the villagers.
Karenin learned about the union of Anna and Alexei Vronsky at the races. The lover took part in a horse race, where he was careless and fell from his horse. Anna, stunned by what was happening, began screaming at the audience. Karenin was as amazed as society that she showed great interest in the cute young man. It was then that Karenina told her husband that she already had a child from her lover. She told her husband not only about her infidelity, but also about her dislike and disgust for him.
Alexey Karenin understands that he is in a very difficult situation and is trying in every possible way to correct the situation. In his imagination, he foresaw everything that such a situation could lead to and looked at all the solutions. Karenin was even ready for a duel, but stopped his plan in time. Knowing his wife’s sore point, he is not going to give her his son in the event of a divorce. As a result, he accepts the illegitimate child as his own and forbids Anna to communicate with Count Vronsky, with which Anna agrees.
During the birth, Anna is looked after by the best doctors, but even they cannot say for sure whether she will survive or not. Vronsky comes to Karenin’s house to say goodbye to his mistress. After which he comes home and tries to commit suicide.
Attempts to save the family were unsuccessful. Karenina hates her husband and at the same moment feels great pity for him. She comprehends her situation and makes a choice. Anna leaves her beloved son and husband, going with Vronsky and their daughter Anechka to Italy.
At this time in the village, Levin begins writing his book about the village and agriculture. All employees respect Levin very much and sometimes travel long distances just to ask for advice. Afterwards, he learns about Kitty’s illness and sees her riding in a carriage to visit her sister, and they are again overcome by sadness.
He decides to go visit the Oblonskys and talk to Kitty again. This time, Konstantin’s hopes came true, and Kitty reciprocated his feelings. Kitty is happy that she gets to see Levin again. After the engagement, they go to the village and continue to live the everyday life of Constantine.
Anna Karenina and Alexey Vronsky continue their journey through Italy. Anna feels happiness and relief for the first time. She doesn’t think about her husband, or her son, or how society treats her after all her deeds. Vronsky treats Anna well and tries himself in some activities, but nothing works out for him, so he quits everything without finishing.
When they returned to St. Petersburg, only Anna noticed how much the whole society hated her. The reason for Anna's return was her son's birthday. Karenin would never have allowed her to meet him. But she came without permission and saw Seryozha. It turned out that the son was told that his mother had died, but Seryozha was very glad that his mother came. After a short meeting, she left without even saying anything to her husband, who surprised her. Karenina understands that without her son she will never be happy. Vronsky invites her to go to the village, and they leave.
At this time, Konstantin and Kitty experience the complexity of life together. In just a few months of marriage, they have already experienced a huge number of quarrels and reconciliations. Levin learns that his brother is dying and the young family immediately moves out. Kitty treats Nikolai normally and carefully looks after him. On the day of her brother’s death, which could not be avoided, Kitty announces to her husband that she is pregnant. All the relatives came to hear this news.
Dolly, who came to see Kitty, finds out that Anna lives nearby and is going to visit her. After a short conversation, Dolly realized that Karenin’s joy and happiness were feigned and in fact she was deeply unhappy.
Between Vronsky and Karenina there is no longer the same understanding and agreement in everything. Knowing that he gave up his whole life for her, she constantly reproaches him. He still sometimes returns to her and visits the society that hated Anna. She is jealous of everything and the only way out of this situation is marriage, but Karenin refuses to divorce his wife.
Anna and Alexey Vronsky quarrel, after which he leaves to live with his mother. Anna did not believe him until the very end and believed that he was cheating on her. The only thing she wanted was for him to suffer the same way she did now. She went to the station and as soon as she saw the train, she remembered the little man who threw himself under the train on the day of their first meeting. Anna immediately decided not to hesitate and, having found the right place, fell under the train. In the last minutes of her life, she very much regretted what she had done, but it was too late to do anything.
Karenina was able to make Vronsky suffer. Since he had already tried to commit suicide once, his mother began to hide sharp and any other things from him that he could use to harm himself. After a while, Alexey Vronsky went to war in Serbia with the hope that he would not return. The mother was very upset by her son’s behavior and defiled Anna in front of society for treating him so disgustingly. Vronsky gave his daughter Anechka to Karenin. And Alexey Alekseevich began to raise his son and adopted daughter alone without a mother.
Society perceived this as an ordinary, unremarkable thing. Many believed that she deserved it and after everything she had done, she could not avoid such a fate.
Levin suffers for long days. He cannot find the meaning of life and death. Everything came at him at once: the birth of a child and the death of his brother. He was guessing for a long time and was already on the verge of suicide, but soon he achieved complete harmony with himself. He didn’t know how long it would last, but he was sure that he should enjoy every day and be happy.

In the Moscow house of the Oblonskys, where “everything was mixed up” at the end of winter 1873, they are waiting for the owner’s sister, Anna Arkadyevna Karenina. The reason for the family discord was that Prince Stepan Arkadyevich Oblonsky was caught by his wife in adultery with the governess. Thirty-four-year-old Stiva Oblonsky sincerely feels sorry for his wife Dolly, but, being a truthful person, he does not assure himself that he repents of what he has done. Cheerful, kind and carefree Stiva has long been no longer in love with his wife, the mother of five living and two dead children, and has long been unfaithful to her.

Stiva is completely indifferent to the work he is doing, serving as a boss in one of the Moscow offices, and this allows him to never get carried away, not make mistakes and perform his duties perfectly. Friendly, tolerant of human shortcomings, charming Steve enjoys the favor of people in his circle, subordinates, bosses and, in general, everyone with whom his life brings him together. Debts and family troubles upset him, but cannot spoil his mood enough to make him refuse dinner at a good restaurant. He has lunch with Konstantin Dmitrievich Levin, who has arrived from the village, his peer and friend from his youth.

Levin came to propose to eighteen-year-old Princess Kitya Shcherbatskaya, Oblonsky's sister-in-law, with whom he had long been in love. Levin is sure that a girl like Kitty, who is above all earthly things, cannot love him, an ordinary landowner, without, as he believes, special talents. In addition, Oblonsky informs him that he apparently has a rival - a brilliant representative of the St. Petersburg “golden youth”, Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky.

Kitty knows about Levin's love and feels light and free with him; with Vronsky she experiences an incomprehensible awkwardness. But it is difficult for her to understand her own feelings; she does not know who to give preference to. Kitty does not suspect that Vronsky does not intend to marry her, and dreams of a happy future with him force her to refuse Levin. Meeting his mother, who has arrived from St. Petersburg, Vronsky sees Anna Arkadyevna Karenina at the station. He immediately notices the special expressiveness of Anna’s entire appearance: “It was as if an excess of something so filled her being that, against her will, it was expressed either in the brilliance of her gaze or in a smile.” The meeting is overshadowed by a sad circumstance: the death of a station watchman under the wheels of a train, which Anna considers a bad omen.

Anna manages to persuade Dolly to forgive her husband; A fragile peace is established in the Oblonskys' house, and Anna goes to the ball together with the Oblonskys and Shcherbatskys. At the ball, Kitty admires Anna's naturalness and grace, admires that special, poetic inner world, which appears in her every movement. Kitty expects a lot from this ball: she is sure that during the mazurka Vronsky will explain himself to her. Suddenly she notices how Vronsky is talking with Anna: in each of their glances one can feel an irresistible attraction to each other, every word decides their fate. Kitty leaves in despair. Anna Karenina returns home to St. Petersburg; Vronsky follows her.

Blaming himself alone for the failure of the matchmaking, Levin returns to the village. Before leaving, he meets with his older brother Nikolai, who lives in cheap rooms with a woman he took from a brothel. Levin loves his brother, despite his uncontrollable character, which causes a lot of trouble for himself and those around him. Seriously ill, lonely, drinking, Nikolai Levin is passionate about the communist idea and the organization of some kind of metalworking artel; this saves him from self-contempt. A date with his brother aggravates the shame and dissatisfaction with himself that Konstantin Dmitrievich experiences after the matchmaking. He calms down only in his family estate Pokrovsky, deciding to work even harder and not allow himself luxury - which, however, never existed in his life before.

The usual life in St. Petersburg, to which Anna returns, causes her disappointment. She had never been in love with her husband, who was much older than her, and had only respect for him. Now his company becomes painful for her, she notices the slightest of his shortcomings: his ears are too big, his habit of cracking his fingers. Her love for her eight-year-old son Seryozha does not save her either. Anna tries to regain her peace of mind, but she fails - mainly because Alexey Vronsky tries in every possible way to achieve her favor. Vronsky is in love with Anna, and his love intensifies because an affair with a lady of high society makes his position even more brilliant. Despite the fact that all of it inner life filled with passion for Anna, outwardly Vronsky leads the ordinary, cheerful and pleasant life of a guards officer: with the Opera, the French theater, balls, horse races and other pleasures. But their relationship with Anna is too different in the eyes of others from easy social flirting; strong passion causes universal condemnation. Alexey Alexandrovich Karenin notices the attitude of the world towards his wife’s affair with Count Vronsky and expresses his dissatisfaction to Anna. Being a high-ranking official, “Alexei Alexandrovich lived and worked all his life in official areas dealing with reflections of life. And every time he came across life itself, he distanced himself from it.” Now he feels in the position of a man standing above the abyss.

Karenin's attempts to stop his wife's uncontrollable desire for Vronsky, Anna's own attempts to restrain herself are unsuccessful. A year after the first meeting, she becomes Vronsky's mistress - realizing that they are now connected forever, like criminals. Vronsky is burdened by the uncertainty of the relationship and persuades Anna to leave her husband and join her life with him. But Anna cannot decide to break with Karenin, and even the fact that she is expecting a child from Vronsky does not give her determination.

During a race, where all the high society is present, Vronsky falls from his horse Frou-Frou. Not knowing how serious the fall is, Anna expresses her despair so openly that Karenin is forced to take her away immediately. She announces to her husband her infidelity and disgust for him. This news gives Alexey Alexandrovich the impression of a sore tooth being pulled out: he finally gets rid of the suffering of jealousy and leaves for St. Petersburg, leaving his wife at the dacha awaiting his decision. But after going through everything possible options future - a duel with Vronsky, a divorce - Karenin decides to leave everything unchanged, punishing and humiliating Anna with the requirement to maintain a false appearance of family life under the threat of separation from her son. Having made this decision, Alexey Alexandrovich finds enough peace to devote himself, with his characteristic stubborn ambition, to thinking about the affairs of the service. Her husband's decision causes Anna to burst into hatred towards him. She considers him a soulless machine who does not think that she has a soul and the need for love. Anna realizes that she is driven into a corner because she is unable to exchange her current position for that of a mistress who abandoned her husband and son and deserves everyone’s contempt.

The continuing uncertainty of the relationship is also painful for Vronsky, who deep down loves order and has an unshakable set of rules of behavior. For the first time in his life, he does not know how to behave further, how to bring his love for Anna into agreement with everyday rules. If he joins her, he will be forced to resign, and this is also not easy for him: Vronsky loves regimental life, enjoys the respect of his comrades; besides, he is ambitious.

The lives of three people are entangled in a web of lies. Anna alternates pity for her husband with disgust; she cannot help but meet with Vronsky, as Alexey Alexandrovich demands. Finally, childbirth occurs, during which Anna almost dies. Lying in childbed fever, she asks Alexei Alexandrovich for forgiveness, and at her bedside he feels pity for his wife, tender compassion and spiritual joy. Vronsky, whom Anna unconsciously rejects, experiences burning shame and humiliation. He tries to shoot himself, but is saved.

Anna does not die and, when the mental softening caused by the proximity of death passes, she again begins to be burdened by her husband. Neither his decency and generosity, nor his touching care for the newborn girl relieves her of irritation; she hates Karenin even for his virtues. A month after her recovery, Anna goes abroad with the retired Vronsky and her daughter.

Living in the village, Levin takes care of the estate, reads, writes a book about agriculture, and undertakes various economic changes that do not find approval from the peasants. For Levin, the village is “a place of life, that is, joys, sufferings, labor.” The men respect him, go forty miles to him for advice - and they strive to deceive him for their own benefit. There is no deliberateness in Levin’s attitude towards the people: he considers himself part of the people, all his interests are connected with the peasants. He admires the strength, meekness, and justice of the peasants and is irritated by their carelessness, sloppiness, drunkenness, and lies. In disputes with his half-brother Sergei Ivanovich Koznyshev, who came to visit, Levin proves that zemstvo activities do not benefit the peasants, because they are not based either on knowledge of their true needs, or on the personal interests of the landowners.

Levin feels his merging with nature; he even hears the growth of spring grass. In the summer he mows with the men, feeling the joy of simple labor. Despite all this, he considers his life idle and dreams of changing it to a working, clean and common life. Subtle changes are constantly taking place in his soul, and Levin listens to them. At one time it seems to him that he has found peace and forgotten his dreams of family happiness. But this illusion crumbles to dust when he learns about Kitty’s serious illness, and then sees her herself, going to her sister in the village. A feeling that seemed dead again takes possession of his heart, and only in love does he see an opportunity to solve the great mystery of life.

In Moscow, at a dinner with the Oblonskys, Levin meets Kitty and realizes that she loves him. In a state of supreme elation, he proposes to Kitty and receives consent. Immediately after the wedding, the newlyweds leave for the village.

Vronsky and Anna travel around Italy. At first Anna feels happy and full of the joy of life. Even the knowledge that she was separated from her son, lost her good name and became the cause of her husband’s misfortune, does not darken her happiness. Vronsky is lovingly and respectfully towards her, he does everything to ensure that she is not burdened by her position. But he himself, despite his love for Anna, experiences melancholy and grasps at everything that can give his life significance. He begins to paint, but, having enough taste, he knows his mediocrity and soon becomes disillusioned with this activity.

Upon returning to St. Petersburg, Anna clearly feels rejected: they don’t want to accept her, her acquaintances avoid meeting her. Insults from the world also poison Vronsky’s life, but, busy with her worries, Anna does not want to notice this. On Seryozha’s birthday, she secretly goes to see him and, finally seeing her son, feeling his love for herself, she understands that she cannot be happy apart from him. In despair, in irritation, she reproaches Vronsky for having stopped loving her; It takes him a lot of effort to calm her down, after which they leave for the village.

The first time of married life turns out to be difficult for Kitty and Levin: they have difficulty getting used to each other, charms are replaced by disappointments, quarrels are replaced by reconciliations. Family life seems to Levin like a boat: it’s pleasant to watch gliding on the water, but it’s very difficult to steer. Suddenly, Levin receives news that brother Nikolai is dying in the provincial town. He immediately goes to him; Despite his protests, Kitty decides to go with him. Having seen his brother and experienced painful pity for him, Levin still cannot get rid of the fear and disgust that the proximity of death evokes in him. He is shocked that Kitty is not at all afraid of the dying man and knows how to behave with him. Levin feels that only his wife’s love saves him these days from horror.

During Kitty's pregnancy, which Levin learns about on the day of his brother's death, the family continues to live in Pokrovskoye, where relatives and friends come for the summer. Levin values ​​the spiritual closeness he has established with his wife, and is tormented by jealousy, afraid of losing this closeness.

Dolly Oblonskaya, visiting her sister, decides to visit Anna Karenina, who lives with Vronsky on his estate, not far from Pokrovsky. Dolly is amazed at the changes that have occurred in Karenina; she feels the falseness of her current way of life, especially noticeable in comparison with her previous liveliness and naturalness. Anna entertains the guests, tries to take care of her daughter, reading, and setting up the village hospital. But her main concern is to replace Vronsky with herself for everything that he left for her sake. Their relationship is becoming more and more tense, Anna is jealous of everything that he is interested in, even of zemstvo activities, which Vronsky is engaged in mainly in order not to lose his independence. In the fall they move to Moscow, awaiting Karenin's decision on divorce. But, offended in his best feelings, rejected by his wife, finding himself alone, Alexey Alexandrovich falls under the influence of the famous spiritualist, Princess Myagkaya, who persuades him, for religious reasons, not to give his criminal wife a divorce. In the relationship between Vronsky and Anna there is neither complete discord nor agreement. Anna blames Vronsky for all the hardships of her situation; attacks of desperate jealousy are instantly replaced by tenderness; Quarrels break out every now and then. In Anna's dreams, the same nightmare is repeated: some man bends over her, pronounces meaningless French words and does something terrible to her. After a particularly difficult quarrel, Vronsky, against Anna’s wishes, goes to visit his mother. In complete confusion, Anna sees her relationship with him as if in a bright light. She understands that her love is becoming more and more passionate and selfish, and Vronsky, without losing his love for her, is still burdened by her and tries not to be dishonest towards her. Trying to achieve his repentance, she follows him to the station, where she suddenly remembers the man crushed by the train on the day of their first meeting - and immediately understands what she needs to do. Anna throws herself under a train; her last vision is of a muttering man. After this, “the candle, by which she was reading a book full of anxiety, deception, grief and evil, flared up with a brighter light than ever, illuminated for her everything that had previously been in the darkness, crackled, began to fade and went out forever.”

Life becomes hateful for Vronsky; he is tormented by unnecessary, but indelible repentance. He volunteers to fight the Turks in Serbia; Karenin takes his daughter to live with him.

After Kitty's birth, which became a deep spiritual shock for Levin, the family returns to the village. Levin is in painful discord with himself - because after the death of his brother and the birth of his son, he cannot resolve the most important questions for himself: the meaning of life, the meaning of death. He feels that he is close to suicide and is afraid to walk with a gun so as not to shoot himself. But at the same time, Levin notes: when he does not ask himself why he lives, he feels in his soul the presence of an infallible judge, and his life becomes firm and definite. Finally, he understands that the knowledge of the laws of good, given personally to him, Levin, in the Gospel Revelation, cannot be grasped by reason and expressed in words. Now he feels able to put an undeniable sense of goodness into every minute of his life.

Anna Karenina

Part one

“All happy families are alike, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Everything is mixed up in the Oblonskys’ house.” Stepan Arkadyevich cheats on his wife Dolly with a French governess. He and Dolly have six children, Dolly was very upset by this, and it seemed to him that his free behavior should be accepted calmly by his wife. Dolly declares that she intends to go with the children to her mother. Even a telegram with the news of the arrival of Stepan Arkadyevich’s sister Anna (Karenina’s husband) does not contribute to the reconciliation of the spouses. Stepan Arkadyevich or Stiva works as the head of one of the government offices in Moscow and earns little. At the service, he unexpectedly meets an old acquaintance, Konstantin Levin. They are both about thirty-five years old and have known each other since childhood.

Levin came to propose to Kitty Shcherbatskaya, Dolly's younger sister. Since childhood, Levin has been in love with the Shcherbatsky house itself, which for him is filled with poetry and mystery. In Moscow, Levin stays with his older maternal brother Sergei Ivanovich Koznyshev, a business man. They remember their third brother Nikolai, who moved away from the family, went downhill, squandered his fortune and began to drink. Levin consults with Oblonsky about his chances of getting consent to marry Kitty, and Stiva encourages him. Levin finds it difficult to decide; his feeling seems special to him, and Kitty seems like an extraordinary girl. Kitty is eighteen years old. Her parents would be glad to see Levin as Kitty's husband, but the young officer Count Vronsky begins to court Kitty, and the mother's sympathies immediately turn to the new contender for Kitty's hand. Stiva reports this to Levin. He goes to explain himself to Kitty, and she refuses him. Vronsky himself is not going to get married. He never knew family life, did not remember his father, his mother, a brilliant socialite, did little with the children. He has tender feelings for Kitty, but nothing more.

The next day after Kitty and Levin’s explanation, Oblonsky and Vronsky meet at the station. Stiva is awaiting the arrival of his sister Anna, Vronsky is expecting his mother. Both women rode together. Anna amazes Vronsky at first sight. “Brilliant gray eyes, which seemed dark from the thick eyelashes, stopped in a friendly, attentive manner on his face, as if she recognized him, and immediately moved to the approaching crowd, as if looking for someone. In this short glance, Vronsky managed to notice restrained liveliness, "which played in her face and fluttered between sparkling eyes and a barely noticeable smile that curved her rosy lips. As if an excess of something so overwhelmed her being that, against her will, it was expressed either in the brilliance of her gaze or in a smile."

While the Karenins and Vronskys are on the platform, a drunken railway guard falls under the train. Anna offers to help the widow, and Vronsky gives two hundred rubles. Stiva asks Anna to reconcile him with his wife. Anna manages to convince Dolly not to leave Stiva; this is facilitated by the fact that Dolly has nowhere to go (her mother does not need her, she has no other patrons or income). Anna reminds Dolly how much Stiva loved her and assures her that her brother will not stumble in the future. Kitty comes to visit the Oblonskys. She is captivated by Anna, her ability to present herself, the ease of her movements, and her poetic attitude towards life. In the evening, Vronsky stops by, but when he sees Anna, he refuses to come in. Everyone finds this strange. At the ball, Kitty sees Anna. She is in a black dress that emphasizes the dignity of her figure. Vronsky dances a waltz with Kitty. Soon Kitty notices that Vronsky is paying increased attention Anna, and she revels in her success. Kitty refuses other gentlemen, but Vronsky dances only with Anna.

At the end of the ball, Anna casually announces that tomorrow she is leaving home for St. Petersburg. On the train she sees Vronsky. He admits that he went after her. On the platform in St. Petersburg, Anna notices her husband. He is subconsciously unpleasant to her. Alexey Alexandrovich is much older than his wife, he holds a high position in the ministry, and prefers not to talk about his feelings. His whole life is as ordered as possible, which goes against Anna’s temperamental nature. They have an eight-year-old son, Seryozha. He greets his mother joyfully, but is a little afraid and shy of his father.

Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin's day is scheduled minute by minute. The service takes up almost all of his time, but, nevertheless, he considers it his duty to follow the latest literature, events in politics, and studies philosophical and theological works. Art is alien to his nature, although he is well educated and considers it possible for himself to judge poetry, music, etc. Vronsky, once in Moscow, intends to lead a social life and visit those houses where he will almost certainly be able to meet the Karenins.

Part two

At the end of winter, a medical consultation gathers in the Shcherbatskys’ house. Kitty is suspected of having the onset of tuberculosis, the cause of which is a nervous breakdown. Everyone at home knows that the problem is that Vronsky “terribly deceived” Kitty’s hopes, so a decision is made to go abroad for treatment, since the girl urgently needs a change of scenery. Anna and Vronsky often see each other at the house of Vronsky's cousin, Princess Betsy Tverskaya. Many people in the world already know about their mutual sympathy, and Betsy specially arranges dates for them. The only one who does not find anything reprehensible in Anna meeting with Vronsky and spending a lot of time with him in public view is Karenin himself.

Anna unexpectedly demands that Vronsky go to Moscow and ask Kitty for forgiveness. Friends at home begin to hint to Alexei Alexandrovich that his wife is not behaving in accordance with decency, this offends Karenin, and he starts a conversation with Anna, which leads nowhere, Anna denies everything and pretends that she does not understand what angered her husband . Finally, the relationship between Anna and Vronsky moves from platonic attraction to physical love. Anna is ashamed, it seems to her that everything is over, and she reminds Vronsky again and again that she has nothing but him. She dreams that she has two husbands, and both of them caress her.

Levin, having retired to his estate, pays a lot of attention to managing the farm, delving into the details of fertilizing the soil, the state of affairs in the barnyard, and sowing. He makes profitable deals with merchants and generally shows himself to be a very zealous owner. Stiva Oblonsky comes to him, but does not tell him anything about Kitty’s fate. The friends hunt together, and Levin still finds out from Stiva the details of Kitty’s illness and the Shcherbatskys’ plans. Stiva accuses Levin of lacking proper persistence and cowardice in front of his opponent, and regrets that Levin did not fight for Kitty’s hand, but immediately retreated.

In St. Petersburg, a scandal is brewing, since there are many people who want to slander the relationship between Anna and Vronsky. Countess Vronskaya also does not approve of her son's behavior, since staying in St. Petersburg (where he can constantly see Karenina) interferes with his career. Vronsky is very bothered by Seryozha, Anna’s son, who often becomes an obstacle to their relationship. Vronsky insists that Anna leave her husband and son and begin to live with him as a wife. Anna makes an excuse by saying that her husband will never give her a divorce, and she does not agree to the position of a mistress. At the same time, Anna constantly insists that she cannot live in a lie, but continues to deceive her husband. However, she herself does not want to keep her secret, and she wants to tell everything to her husband so that everything becomes clear between them. The feelings of Alexei Alexandrovich, for whom a public scandal is tantamount to the end of his career and who prefers to live by conventions (i.e., lies from Anna’s point of view), do not concern her at all.

At the races, due to Vronsky’s incorrect movement, the horse under him falls and breaks its back. Anna does not take her eyes off him during the race. Seeing Vronsky on the ground, Anna completely betrays herself: she rushes about, gasps loudly, does not notice that her husband is inviting her to leave, points binoculars at Vronsky, and sobs loudly. Only after learning that the rider is unharmed does she somehow calm down. On the way home, she informs her husband that she is in a love affair with Vronsky, and is afraid and hates Alexei Alexandrovich. Karenin demands compliance with external conventions and leaves immediately.

The Shcherbatskys travel. On the waters they meet Madame Stahl, a Russian lady who moves in a wheelchair, and Varenka, a girl who looks after her. Varenka is always busy, always helping someone, resolving conflicts. Varenka is the adopted daughter of Madame Stahl. Kitty really likes her, and she becomes close to this active and compassionate person. Kitty tells Varenka about the story with Vronsky, she consoles and reassures her, urging her to take a more balanced approach to the vicissitudes of fate, assures that Kitty’s case is far from the only one, Kitty tries to follow Varenka’s example and look after the sick artist Petrov, but incurs the suspicions of Petrov’s wife . In addition, it turns out that Madame Stahl has not gotten up for ten years, not because she is dangerously ill, but because she is poorly built (short legs). Kitty recovers, and the Shcherbatskys go to Moscow.

Part three

Sergei Ivanovich Koznyshev comes to the village to visit Levin to rest. He discovers that his brother easily communicates with peasants and understands the farm. The brothers have long conversations about the people, about the need for education, and it turns out that the armchair reformer Koznyshev faces stubborn opposition from the practitioner Levin. During mowing, Levin works equally with the men; he seems to be resting in hard physical labor, he really likes working on the land.

Next door to Levin's estate (Pokrovskoye) is the Oblonsky village of Ergushovo, where Dolly and her children go to cut costs. The house is completely unfurnished, and Dolly herself is in despair from the huge number of economic problems that have befallen her. Levin visits her and makes the necessary orders, which helps Dolly a lot and allows her to quickly improve her life and find a common language with the servants.

A grateful Dolly tells him that she has invited Kitty to stay with her for the summer. She wants to reconcile her sister with Levin, but he admits to Dolly that he proposed to Kitty, which she rejected. Dolly tries as delicately as possible to convince him that all is not lost, and that he does not need to consider himself insulted. Karenin is trying to convince himself that Anna’s crime should not throw him off balance, that he needs to continue to live as if nothing had happened, that what happened is his wife’s problem, that he is not the first and he is not the last deceived husband. He decides not to fight a duel, obeying the voice of reason, not to start a lawsuit that will only harm his impeccable reputation. He is not jealous of Anna, he is considering the possibility of living separately, but comes to the conclusion that this will only contribute to his wife’s “promiscuity”, and decides that best option- live as before, only without respecting Anna.

Karenin is confident that over time the affair will end and his relationship with his wife will be restored. He sends Anna a polite letter, in which he sets out the conclusions he has come to, promises the same financial support, and explains the need to preserve the family - first of all, for the sake of Seryozha. Anna, having received the letter, behaves quite impulsively. She decides to take Seryozha and leave her husband, orders her things to be packed, but then unpacks them. She understands that she cannot neglect the light and the way of life that she is used to leading, but she is also not ready for the role of a mistress, she cries bitterly, asks herself questions where only “I” is heard, etc.

Vronsky intends to sort out his situation. First of all, he settles his financial affairs and finds out that his income should not be increased (for Anna, for example), but cut. Then it turns out that Anna is pregnant. Vronsky is faced with the need to retire. Anna is waiting for a decision from him, but at his first word she is ready to leave both her husband and son and leave with Vronsky. She admits (without any reason) to her husband that she cannot change anything, and he declares that he is ignoring her and again demands to behave decently. The daughter of the leader of the Sviyazhsky district is being wooed to Levin. During a visit to Sviyazhsky, Levin expresses his thoughts on the need to conduct farming in Russia in a Russian, and not a foreign, manner, and to take into account the character traits of Russian peasants and workers.

He is not sure of the usefulness of schools, because schools will not boost the economy: “Schools will not help, but an economic system will help in which the people will be richer, there will be more leisure, and then there will be schools.” He believes that peasants should be interested in the success of the farm and should be paid more. Levin begins to rationally organize his economy. Levin's reforms meet with misunderstanding on the part of the peasants. Housekeeping takes up so much effort and time that Levin doesn’t even pay attention to Kitty’s arrival in Ergushovo.

Part four

The Karenins continue to live in the same house, Anna still sees Vronsky. She experiences attacks of jealousy more and more often, and Vronsky begins to grow cold towards her. Anna is furious because her husband remains completely calm outwardly; she wants him to kill her, but to stop her “torture.” Anna constantly repeats to both Karenin and Vronsky that she will soon die (from childbirth). One day, Karenin runs into Vronsky on the porch of his house, forces his wife to explain himself to him, announces that he is moving to Moscow and taking Seryozha, Karenin goes to a lawyer to find out if a divorce is possible, but realizing that for the process it is necessary to make his wife's love letters public , decides not to start litigation. He leaves for Moscow.

While visiting the Oblonskys, Kitty meets Levin again. Karenin is also present there. To Dolly’s attempts to talk to him about reconciliation with Anna, he coldly replies that he does not see such a possibility. “I can’t forgive, and I don’t want to, and I think it’s unfair. I did everything for this woman, and she trampled everything into the dirt that is characteristic of her.” Kitty spends the whole evening with Levin. They understand each other perfectly, declare their love (they write the first letters of the words of the explanation in chalk). In fact, Kitty agrees to marry Levin and invites him to propose to her parents. They approve of their daughter's choice. Preparations for the wedding begin.

Karenin receives a telegram from Anna, in which she writes about her imminent death and begs him to come. Knowing Anna's character, Alexey Alexandrovich decides that this is a trick, but still sets off on his journey. In the house he finds a crying Vronsky and a confused servant; Anna gave birth to a girl, but she herself is dying (puerperal fever). She is delirious, but when she regains consciousness, she calls her husband, calls him a saint, and asks for forgiveness. Karenin explains to Vronsky, saying that he has forgiven Anna everything. Vronsky leaves, goes home and decides to shoot himself, but only wounds himself. Then he decides to leave for Tashkent, but asks permission to see Anna first. Anna remains to live.

While everything in the house revolves around her, Alexey Alexandrovich manages to arrange medical care for her and arrange for the newborn (find a wet nurse, etc.). Anna recovers, but falls into apathy, and her husband does nothing to change her living conditions (he neither takes her away nor gives her a divorce). Oblonsky begins a conversation with Karenin and again starts talking about divorce. Karenin is beside himself because he is once again being trampled into the dirt - after all his generous deeds. He agrees to give a divorce. Vronsky does not go to Tashkent, but leaves for Italy with Anna and little Anya. Alexey Alexandrovich is left alone with Seryozha.

Part five

Preparations for the wedding are in full swing at the Shcherbatskys' house. Levin really likes “happy chores”; he even fasts and confesses, which he has not done for many years. He confesses to the priest that he doubts the existence of God; and he urges him to believe for the sake of his future children. The priest treats Levin kindly, does not demand vows from him, and Levin waits for the wedding day with a pure soul, rejoicing that he will not have to lie. The wedding ceremony is described very solemnly. Everything seems unusually majestic to Levin, he is grateful to the priest who found the right words, happy that Kitty, standing next to him, feels the same as he does.

That same evening the young people leave for the village. At first, inexperienced spouses cannot get used to each other - petty quarrels and petty jealousy poison their happiness. Three months later they return to Moscow, and their lives improve. They receive news that Levin’s brother, Nikolai, is dying, a woman (from the street) lives with him, who takes care of him to the best of her ability. Kitty decides to go with her husband. She manages to quickly find a common language with Nikolai, who is immediately attracted to her by her sincerity and compassion, while in the company of Konstantin himself, Nikolai feels uncomfortable. Nikolai is capricious, he dies long and painfully. Kitty's health is also deteriorating. The doctor determines pregnancy.

Vronsky and Anna travel around Europe. Anna persuades herself to be guilty towards her husband, but, despite all her efforts, she does not feel even a shadow of guilt. She wants to see Seryozha, and she and Vronsky return to St. Petersburg. There they are awaited by the wary attitude of the light, which does not want to take them back. Anna decides to see her son on his birthday at all costs. Alexey Alexandrovich “could not in any way reconcile his recent forgiveness, his tenderness, his love for his sick wife and someone else’s child with what now happened, that is, with the fact that, as if as a reward for all this, he now found himself alone, disgraced , ridiculed, unwanted and despised by everyone."

He strives with all his might to forget himself, to immerse himself in his work, to seem unperturbed, but he comes to despair from the consciousness of his complete loneliness. All women are disgusting to him, he has no friends, all his relatives are dead. Countess Lidia Ivanovna begins to visit him frequently, who tries to support and encourage him and takes on the responsibilities of arranging Karenin’s life. She inspires Karenin with the idea of ​​the need for Seryozha’s complete isolation from Anna and announces to the boy that his mother has died. However, soon Lydia Ivanovna receives a letter from Anna, where she asks for assistance in arranging a meeting with her son. The Countess writes an answer in an insulting tone for Anna and refuses her. On top of that, Alexey Alexandrovich is no longer promoted, although he is still active and businesslike.

Karenin is trying to establish contact with Seryozha, is personally involved in his education, but cannot find an approach to the boy. Seryozha withdraws more and more into himself, misses his mother, realizing that he must love his father, cannot bring himself to be grateful to him. On Seryozha's birthday, Anna tricks her way into her husband's house. Seryozha is very happy with her, he admits that he never believed in her death. Karenin enters, and Anna runs away without giving Seryozha the toys she bought for him. Anna is bored locked up, and she, contrary to the advice of Vronsky (who suspects that this will not lead to good), goes to the theater. One of the ladies, Kartasova, insults Anna, declaring that it is shameful to sit next to Karenina. Although most of those present agree that this is an evil and undignified prank, a scandal is guaranteed. Returning home, Anna blames Vronsky for everything.

Part six

Dolly is visiting Kitty in Pokrovskoye. Varenka also arrives, she takes care of Kitty. Levin's brother Sergei Ivanovich shows signs of attention to Varenka. Everyone is waiting for Koznyshev’s proposal; he himself has been preparing for a long time, but still does not dare to make it. Stiva arrives with his friend Veslovsky, who begins to look after Kitty. Both of them cause active irritation in Levin, and he kicks Veslovsky out of his house. Dolly goes to visit Anna at the Vozdvizhenskoye estate, where she lives with Vronsky and daughter Anya.

Anna is still pretty, she pays a lot of attention to her wardrobe, and rides horseback. Anna is rather indifferent to her daughter; she does not know many of the small, tedious and charming details of upbringing. small child, which Dolly lived with all her life. Vronsky sets up a modern hospital and is passionate about housekeeping. Anna delves into his affairs, helps him as best she can, and begins to write a book for children. Few people visit them, so both of them are very grateful to Dolly for her action. Among other things, Anna happily tells Dolly that she will no longer be able to have children. She doesn't want to look bad and be pregnant, i.e. sick. She dreams only of Vronsky’s passionate love, realizing that he is not interested in her ailments and can leave her. Anna no longer even thinks about divorce; she pays little attention to her daughter, but wants to return Seryozha, whom, along with Vronsky, she loves.

She studies issues of architecture, agronomy, and horse breeding from books and magazines, achieving significant success, so that Vronsky himself sometimes turns to her for advice. He increasingly feels that Anna is entangling him with “invisible nets”; the thirst for independence is awakening in him more and more. He goes to provincial elections. Anna decides to make an effort and not bother Vronsky with stormy scenes of jealousy and copious tears. However, it doesn't last long. She writes Vronsky a contradictory letter about Anya’s illness, sometimes demanding to come immediately, sometimes adding that she herself will come to him. In Vronsky’s absence, she begins to take morphine. Vronsky returns and immediately reveals the deception. The scenes are unpleasant for him, he is burdened by the endless showdowns, and he himself no longer wants Anna to divorce Karenin.

Part seven

The Levins move to Moscow. Konstantin pays visits, goes to the theater and everywhere feels equally out of place. Among others, he visits Anna and Vronsky. Anna tries to impress Levin, who admires her. Kitty accuses him of being in love with Anna (like Vronsky once did). Levin promises to avoid Karenina’s company from now on.

Kitty goes into labor. Levin is scared to death, he feels incredibly sorry for his suffering wife, he no longer wants a child and only prays that Kitty remains alive. Everything ends well. The Levins had a son, Dmitry. Stiva Oblonsky's affairs are in a deplorable state. He tries to work through Karenin for a salary increase, but he considers him an empty worker, although he agrees to “put in a good word.” Alexey Alexandrovich Karenin, together with Countess Lidia Ivanovna, attends meetings of a certain “mystical” society.

Anna suffers more and more from causeless jealousy, from isolation, from Vronsky’s cooling. She behaves more and more impulsively and selfishly, which further pushes her loved one away from her. She either asks for forgiveness, then pretends to be offended by pride, then again threatens to die, then showers Vronsky with passionate caresses. Vronsky is jarred by talk of love, which is almost gone, and the news of Karenin’s agreement to divorce is unpleasant to him. Anna dreams of punishing Vronsky for his coldness (even to her own detriment); she simply needs violent expressions of feelings, which has not been observed in her chosen one for a long time. She has completely lost her mental balance, she contradicts herself, doesn’t know what she wants, can’t stay at home alone, rushes about, cries, writes meaningless notes to Vronsky. Anna goes to Dolly, hoping to receive sympathy and consolation from her, but finds Kitty at the Oblonskys. As if by chance, Anna notices that Levin was with her and she really liked her. Not finding an answer from Vronsky at home, Anna is completely immersed in painful and incoherent thoughts about her lost love. Remembering how on the day they met Vronsky, a train crushed a man in front of their eyes, Anna goes to the station and throws herself onto the rails.

Part Eight

Karenin takes little Anya. Happy Kitty raises Mitya, whom Levin also loves very much. The Levins give Dolly part of their estate to amend financial situation Oblonsky family. Vronsky leaves for Serbia. Levin, who thought a lot about God, comes to the idea that “the undoubted manifestation of God is the laws of good... in recognition of which I... am united with other people in one society of believers, which is called the church... my life is now ... is not only not meaningless, as it was before, but has an undoubted meaning of good, which I have the power to put into it!

Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy

"Anna Karenina"

In the Moscow house of the Oblonskys, where “everything was mixed up” at the end of winter 1873, they are waiting for the owner’s sister, Anna Arkadyevna Karenina. The reason for the family discord was that Prince Stepan Arkadyevich Oblonsky was caught by his wife in infidelity with the governess. Thirty-four-year-old Stiva Oblonsky sincerely feels sorry for his wife Dolly, but, being a truthful person, he does not assure himself that he repents of what he has done. Cheerful, kind and carefree Stiva has long been no longer in love with his wife, the mother of five living and two dead children, and has long been unfaithful to her.

Stiva is completely indifferent to the work he is doing, serving as a boss in one of the Moscow offices, and this allows him to never get carried away, not make mistakes and perform his duties perfectly. Friendly, tolerant of human shortcomings, charming Stiva enjoys the favor of people in his circle, subordinates, bosses and, in general, everyone with whom his life brings him together. Debts and family troubles upset him, but cannot spoil his mood enough to make him refuse dinner at a good restaurant. He has lunch with Konstantin Dmitrievich Levin, who has arrived from the village, his peer and friend from his youth.

Levin came to propose to eighteen-year-old Princess Kitya Shcherbatskaya, Oblonsky’s sister-in-law, with whom he had long been in love. Levin is sure that a girl like Kitty, who is above all earthly things, cannot love him, an ordinary landowner, without, as he believes, special talents. In addition, Oblonsky informs him that he apparently has a rival - a brilliant representative of the St. Petersburg “golden youth”, Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky.

Kitty knows about Levin's love and feels light and free with him; with Vronsky she experiences an incomprehensible awkwardness. But it is difficult for her to understand her own feelings; she does not know who to give preference to. Kitty does not suspect that Vronsky does not intend to marry her, and dreams of a happy future with him force her to refuse Levin. Meeting his mother, who has arrived from St. Petersburg, Vronsky sees Anna Arkadyevna Karenina at the station. He immediately notices the special expressiveness of Anna’s entire appearance: “It was as if an excess of something so filled her being that, against her will, it was expressed either in the brilliance of her gaze or in a smile.” The meeting is overshadowed by a sad circumstance: the death of a station watchman under the wheels of a train, which Anna considers a bad omen.

Anna manages to persuade Dolly to forgive her husband; A fragile peace is established in the Oblonskys' house, and Anna goes to the ball together with the Oblonskys and Shcherbatskys. At the ball, Kitty admires Anna's naturalness and grace, admires that special, poetic inner world that appears in her every movement. Kitty expects a lot from this ball: she is sure that during the mazurka Vronsky will explain himself to her. Suddenly she notices how Vronsky is talking with Anna: in each of their glances one can feel an irresistible attraction to each other, every word decides their fate. Kitty leaves in despair. Anna Karenina returns home to St. Petersburg; Vronsky follows her.

Blaming himself alone for the failure of the matchmaking, Levin returns to the village. Before leaving, he meets with his older brother Nikolai, who lives in cheap rooms with a woman he took from a brothel. Levin loves his brother, despite his uncontrollable character, which causes a lot of trouble for himself and those around him. Seriously ill, lonely, drinking, Nikolai Levin is carried away by the communist idea and the organization of some kind of metalworking artel; this saves him from self-contempt. A date with his brother aggravates the shame and dissatisfaction with himself that Konstantin Dmitrievich experiences after the matchmaking. He calms down only in his family estate Pokrovsky, deciding to work even harder and not allow himself luxury - which, however, never existed in his life before.

The usual life in St. Petersburg, to which Anna returns, causes her disappointment. She had never been in love with her husband, who was much older than her, and had only respect for him. Now his company becomes painful for her, she notices the slightest of his shortcomings: his ears are too big, his habit of cracking his fingers. Her love for her eight-year-old son Seryozha does not save her either. Anna tries to regain her peace of mind, but she fails - mainly because Alexey Vronsky tries in every possible way to achieve her favor. Vronsky is in love with Anna, and his love intensifies because an affair with a lady of high society makes his position even more brilliant. Despite the fact that his entire inner life is filled with passion for Anna, outwardly Vronsky leads the ordinary, cheerful and pleasant life of a guards officer: with the Opera, the French theater, balls, horse races and other pleasures. But their relationship with Anna is too different in the eyes of others from easy social flirting; strong passion causes universal condemnation. Alexey Alexandrovich Karenin notices the attitude of the world towards his wife’s affair with Count Vronsky and expresses his dissatisfaction to Anna. Being a high-ranking official, “Alexei Alexandrovich lived and worked all his life in official areas dealing with reflections of life. And every time he came across life itself, he distanced himself from it.” Now he feels in the position of a man standing above the abyss.

Karenin's attempts to stop his wife's uncontrollable desire for Vronsky, Anna's own attempts to restrain herself are unsuccessful. A year after the first meeting, she becomes Vronsky’s mistress - realizing that now they are connected forever, like criminals. Vronsky is burdened by the uncertainty of the relationship and persuades Anna to leave her husband and join her life with him. But Anna cannot decide to break with Karenin, and even the fact that she is expecting a child from Vronsky does not give her the resolve.

During a race, where all the high society is present, Vronsky falls from his horse Frou-Frou. Not knowing how serious the fall is, Anna expresses her despair so openly that Karenin is forced to immediately take her away. She announces to her husband her infidelity and disgust for him. This news gives Alexey Alexandrovich the impression of a sore tooth being pulled out: he finally gets rid of the suffering of jealousy and leaves for St. Petersburg, leaving his wife at the dacha awaiting his decision. But, having gone through all possible options for the future - a duel with Vronsky, a divorce - Karenin decides to leave everything unchanged, punishing and humiliating Anna with the requirement to maintain a false appearance of family life under the threat of separation from her son. Having made this decision, Alexey Alexandrovich finds enough peace to devote himself, with his characteristic stubborn ambition, to thinking about the affairs of the service. Her husband's decision causes Anna to burst into hatred towards him. She considers him a soulless machine who does not think that she has a soul and the need for love. Anna realizes that she is driven into a corner because she is unable to exchange her current position for that of a mistress who abandoned her husband and son and deserves everyone’s contempt.

The continuing uncertainty of the relationship is also painful for Vronsky, who deep down loves order and has an unshakable set of rules of behavior. For the first time in his life, he does not know how to behave further, how to bring his love for Anna into agreement with everyday rules. If he joins her, he will be forced to resign, and this is also not easy for him: Vronsky loves regimental life, enjoys the respect of his comrades; besides, he is ambitious.

The lives of three people are entangled in a web of lies. Anna alternates pity for her husband with disgust; she cannot help but meet with Vronsky, as Alexey Alexandrovich demands. Finally, childbirth occurs, during which Anna almost dies. Lying in childbirth fever, she asks for forgiveness from Alexei Alexandrovich, and at her bedside he feels pity for his wife, tender compassion and spiritual joy. Vronsky, whom Anna unconsciously rejects, experiences burning shame and humiliation. He tries to shoot himself, but is saved.

Anna does not die and, when the mental softening caused by the proximity of death passes, she again begins to be burdened by her husband. Neither his decency and generosity, nor his touching care for the newborn girl relieves her of irritation; she hates Karenin even for his virtues. A month after her recovery, Anna goes abroad with the retired Vronsky and her daughter.

Living in the village, Levin takes care of the estate, reads, writes a book about agriculture, and undertakes various economic changes that do not find approval from the peasants. For Levin, the village is “a place of life, that is, of joys, sufferings, and labor.” The men respect him, they go forty miles away to consult him - and they try to deceive him for their own benefit. There is no deliberateness in Levin’s attitude towards the people: he considers himself part of the people, all his interests are connected with the peasants. He admires the strength, meekness, and justice of the peasants and is irritated by their carelessness, sloppiness, drunkenness, and lies. In disputes with his half-brother Sergei Ivanovich Koznyshev, who came to visit, Levin proves that zemstvo activities do not benefit the peasants, because they are not based either on knowledge of their true needs, or on the personal interests of the landowners.

Levin feels his merging with nature; he even hears the growth of spring grass. In the summer he mows with the men, feeling the joy of simple labor. Despite all this, he considers his life idle and dreams of changing it to a working, clean and common life. Subtle changes are constantly taking place in his soul, and Levin listens to them. At one time it seems to him that he has found peace and forgotten his dreams of family happiness. But this illusion crumbles to dust when he learns about Kitty’s serious illness, and then sees her herself, going to her sister in the village. A feeling that seemed dead again takes possession of his heart, and only in love does he see an opportunity to solve the great mystery of life.

In Moscow, at a dinner with the Oblonskys, Levin meets Kitty and realizes that she loves him. In a state of supreme elation, he proposes to Kitty and receives consent. Immediately after the wedding, the newlyweds leave for the village.

Vronsky and Anna travel around Italy. At first Anna feels happy and full of the joy of life. Even the knowledge that she was separated from her son, lost her good name and became the cause of her husband’s misfortune does not darken her happiness. Vronsky is lovingly and respectfully towards her, he does everything to ensure that she is not burdened by her position. But he himself, despite his love for Anna, experiences melancholy and grasps at everything that can give his life significance. He begins to paint, but, having enough taste, he knows his mediocrity and soon becomes disillusioned with this activity.

Upon returning to St. Petersburg, Anna clearly feels rejected: they don’t want to accept her, her friends avoid meeting her. Insults from the world also poison Vronsky’s life, but, busy with her worries, Anna does not want to notice this. On Seryozha’s birthday, she secretly goes to see him and, finally seeing her son, feeling his love for herself, she understands that she cannot be happy apart from him. In despair, in irritation, she reproaches Vronsky for having stopped loving her; It takes him a lot of effort to calm her down, after which they leave for the village.

The first time of married life turns out to be difficult for Kitty and Levin: they have difficulty getting used to each other, charms are replaced by disappointments, quarrels are replaced by reconciliations. Family life seems to Levin like a boat: it’s pleasant to watch gliding on the water, but it’s very difficult to steer. Suddenly, Levin receives news that brother Nikolai is dying in the provincial town. He immediately goes to him; Despite his protests, Kitty decides to go with him. Having seen his brother and experienced painful pity for him, Levin still cannot get rid of the fear and disgust that the proximity of death evokes in him. He is shocked that Kitty is not at all afraid of the dying man and knows how to behave with him. Levin feels that only his wife’s love saves him these days from horror.

During Kitty's pregnancy, which Levin learns about on the day of his brother's death, the family continues to live in Pokrovskoye, where relatives and friends come for the summer. Levin values ​​the spiritual closeness he has established with his wife, and is tormented by jealousy, afraid of losing this closeness.

Dolly Oblonskaya, visiting her sister, decides to visit Anna Karenina, who lives with Vronsky on his estate, not far from Pokrovsky. Dolly is amazed at the changes that have occurred in Karenina; she feels the falseness of her current way of life, especially noticeable in comparison with her previous liveliness and naturalness. Anna entertains the guests, tries to take care of her daughter, reading, and setting up the village hospital. But her main concern is to replace with herself everything that he left for her for Vronsky. Their relationship is becoming more and more tense, Anna is jealous of everything that he is interested in, even of zemstvo activities, which Vronsky is engaged in mainly in order not to lose his independence. In the fall they move to Moscow, awaiting Karenin's decision on divorce. But, offended in his best feelings, rejected by his wife, and finding himself alone, Alexey Alexandrovich falls under the influence of the famous spiritualist, Princess Myagkaya, who persuades him, for religious reasons, not to give his criminal wife a divorce.

In the relationship between Vronsky and Anna there is neither complete discord nor agreement. Anna blames Vronsky for all the hardships of her situation; attacks of desperate jealousy are instantly replaced by tenderness; Quarrels break out every now and then. In Anna's dreams, the same nightmare is repeated: some man bends over her, pronounces meaningless French words and does something terrible to her. After a particularly difficult quarrel, Vronsky, against Anna’s wishes, goes to visit his mother. In complete confusion, Anna sees her relationship with him as if in a bright light. She understands that her love is becoming more and more passionate and selfish, and Vronsky, without losing his love for her, is still burdened by her and tries not to be dishonest towards her. Trying to achieve his repentance, she follows him to the station, where she suddenly remembers the man crushed by the train on the day of their first meeting - and immediately understands what she needs to do. Anna throws herself under a train; her last vision is of a muttering man. After this, “the candle, by which she was reading a book full of anxiety, deception, grief and evil, flared up with a brighter light than ever, illuminated for her everything that had previously been in the darkness, crackled, began to fade and went out forever.”

Life becomes hateful for Vronsky; he is tormented by unnecessary, but indelible repentance. He volunteers to fight the Turks in Serbia; Karenin takes his daughter to live with him.

After Kitty's birth, which became a deep spiritual shock for Levin, the family returns to the village. Levin is in painful discord with himself - because after the death of his brother and the birth of his son, he cannot resolve the most important questions for himself: the meaning of life, the meaning of death. He feels that he is close to suicide and is afraid to walk with a gun so as not to shoot himself. But at the same time, Levin notes: when he does not ask himself why he lives, he feels in his soul the presence of an infallible judge, and his life becomes firm and definite. Finally, he understands that the knowledge of the laws of good, given personally to him, Levin, in the Gospel Revelation, cannot be grasped by reason and expressed in words. Now he feels able to put an undeniable sense of goodness into every minute of his life.

There is discord in the Oblonskys' house. The owner of the house, Prince Stepan Arkadyevich Oblonsky, is caught by his wife in treason. He feels sorry for his wife, but does not repent of his actions. The prince's sister Anna Arkadyevna Karenina is expected to visit.

Stepan Arkadyevich enjoys people's favor. He is friendly and condescending towards human weaknesses and shortcomings. Stepan Arkadyevich is having lunch with Konstantin Dmitrievich Levin, a friend of his youth who came from the village.

Levin came to propose to Kitty Shcherbatskaya, Oblonsky's eighteen-year-old sister-in-law. It turns out that Levin has a serious rival - Alexey Kirillovich Vronsky. Vronsky is not going to marry Kitty, but she does not suspect this and refuses Levin.

Meeting his mother, Vronsky sees Anna Karenina at the station and immediately falls in love with her.

Anna persuades Dolly to forgive her unlucky husband and peace is restored in the Oblonsky house. Anna is going to the ball. Kitty admires Anna's grace and naturalness at the ball. She herself expects from this ball that Vronsky will explain himself to her. But suddenly he notices how Vronsky speaks to Anna and in each of their glances an irresistible attraction to each other is visible. Kitty leaves in despair. Anna leaves for St. Petersburg. Vronsky follows her. Levin returns to the village.

Anna returns to her normal life, but it only causes her disappointment. She was never in love with her husband, and now his company is becoming completely painful for her. Even her love for her son does not save the situation. Vronsky tries in every possible way to achieve Anna's favor. Their romance causes universal condemnation.

Anna's husband's attempts to stop his wife's desire for Count Vronsky, like Anna's own attempts to end their relationship, do not end in success. He persuades her to leave her husband, but Anna does not dare to do this even though she is expecting a child from Vronsky.

Anna openly tells her husband about her infidelity. He decides to punish Anna by forcing her to create the appearance of family life. Anna begins to hate her husband. She's backed into a corner. Vronsky is also not satisfied with such uncertainty in their relationship.

During childbirth, Anna almost dies. She asks Karenin for forgiveness and rejects Vronsky. A humiliated lover tries to shoot himself. He is rescued.

Soon Anna begins to hate her husband again. Anna recovers and leaves with Vronsky and her daughter abroad.

Levin lives quietly in the village, takes care of the house, but as soon as he learns about Kitty’s illness, his feelings flare up with new strength. At dinner with the Oblonsky couple, they meet, and he understands that he loves Kitiego. Kitty accepts Levin's proposal. They get married and immediately after that leave for the village.

Upon returning to St. Petersburg after traveling with Vronsky in Italy, Anna feels rejected. Having seen her son, she understands that she can never be happy apart from him. Anna does not notice Vronsky’s worries. She reproaches him for falling out of love with her. Vronsky calms her down with difficulty, and they leave for the village.

Married life turns out to be quite difficult for Kitty and Levin. Quarrels are replaced by reconciliations. Levin's brother Nikolai dies and on the same day Levin learns about Kitty's pregnancy.

The relationship between Anna and Vronsky becomes increasingly tense. Anna is jealous of everything he is passionate about. In the fall they move to Moscow and wait for Karenin's decision on divorce. But he does not agree to divorce. Anna continues to blame Vronsky for all the hardships of her current situation. There is neither agreement nor complete discord between them. Vronsky leaves, Anna wants to try to reason with him and goes to the station. She remembers the man who was crushed by a train the day they first met. Anna rushes onto the train.

Vronsky leaves for the war with the Turks, Karenin takes his daughter to live with him. Levin's family returns to the village after Kitty gives birth.