Anna Karenina is a novel by Leo Tolstoy published in 1877 through 1878, set against the background of Russian society of that time. Its theme is the institution of marriage and its relation to society and morality.
The novel intially appeared serially in the periodical Ruskii Vestnik ("Russian Messenger"), but Tolstoy clashed with the editor, Mikhail Katkov, over issues that arose in the final installment. Consequently, the novel's first complete appearance was in book form.
Warning: Wikipedia contains spoilers
The title character, Anna, is the wife of the bureaucrat Karenin. She is invited from her home in St Petersburg to Moscow to mediate the marital discord of her brother Stepan (Stiva) Oblonsky and his wife Darya (Dolly) caused by the former's unfaithfulness. In Moscow, Anna meets and secures the admiration of Count Vronsky to the jealously of Dolly's sister Katarina (Kitty) whom he has previously been courting.
As the novel opens, Stiva's friend Levin has returned Moscow from his country estate with the intention of proposing to Kitty. He first meets Stiva who encourages him in this plan, but, later that evening, Kitty rejects him in the expectation that Vronsky is about to propose to her.
The following morning Stiva and Vronsky are at the station to welcome Anna and Vronsky's mother respectively. This is the occasion the first meeting of Anna and Vronsky. As they, Anna and Countess Vronsky are leaving the station there is a railway suicide of an unnamed woman.
(not to be confused with Anna Karina)
