Anna Karenina Summary

A household in Moscow is in turmoil due to infidelity. Dolly has discovered her husband, Stiva, was unfaithful with the former nanny of their children, and is considering leaving him. Stiva's sister, Anna, married to a government official from St. Petersburg, comes to mediate between the couple. In the meantime, Dolly's younger sister, Kitty, is being pursued by two men - Konstantin Levin, a socially awkward landowner, and Alexei Vronsky, a charismatic military officer. Kitty rejects Levin for Vronsky, but the latter falls for Anna, leaving Kitty heartbroken and ill. Levin retreats to his country estate, while Anna goes home, contemplating her feelings for Vronsky, but initially dismissing them.

Vronsky follows Anna home, and their attraction escalates as Anna starts socializing with Vronsky's progressive cousin and her circle. At a social gathering, Anna urges Vronsky to seek Kitty's forgiveness, to which he confesses his love for Anna instead. Anna's husband, Karenin, suspects an affair, but Anna refutes his suspicions. However, after Vronsky injures his horse in a race, Anna confesses her affair and her love for Vronsky to Karenin. Meanwhile, Kitty recovers in a German spa, where she encounters Levin's ailing brother, Nikolai. Levin, criticized by his half-brother for resigning from his local administrative council post, contemplates reigniting his relationship with Kitty, with whom he eventually gets engaged and marries.

Despite the turmoil, Karenin rejects Anna's plea for divorce, insisting they maintain their public facade. Anna retreats to their country home, where her relationship with Vronsky becomes strained after she reveals her pregnancy. Karenin finally agrees to divorce after catching Vronsky at his country home, but the decision remains in the hands of a resentful Anna, who doesn't request the divorce. She and Vronsky move to Italy, leading a purposeless life, and upon their return to Russia are shunned by society. Anna, trapped and scorned, grows jealous of Vronsky's freedom. Meanwhile, Levin's married life unfolds with its surprises, including a lack of freedom he hadn’t anticipated. Levin and Kitty start a family, while Anna's life takes a tragic turn when she throws herself under a train. Despite the tragedy, Levin finds comfort and meaning in faith, love for his family, and the good he can put into his life.