Anna Karenina published complete in book form in Moscow (1878)

Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina was published in book form in 1878. The work, often considered among the greatest works of world literature, was initially released in serial installments from 1875 to 1877. Tolstoy himself called it his first true novel, distinguishing it from his earlier works.

Episodes

Background and detail

Publication History. Anna Karenina was first published in book form in 1878. Prior to this, the novel was released in serial installments from 1875 to 1877, with all but the last part appearing in the periodical The Russian Messenger. The book form publication consolidated these earlier serial releases into a single volume.

Literary Significance. The novel is often considered to be among the greatest works of world literature. Tolstoy himself called Anna Karenina his first true novel, a designation that highlights its importance in his literary career. It is frequently cited alongside War and Peace as a pinnacle of realist fiction.

Author Context. Leo Tolstoy, a Russian writer born in 1828, achieved acclaim in his twenties with his semi-autobiographical trilogy, Childhood, Boyhood and Youth (1852–1856), and with Sevastopol Sketches (1855). He spent time in Moscow, Tula, and Saint Petersburg. War and Peace (1869), Anna Karenina (1878), and Resurrection (1899) are often cited as pinnacles of realist fiction.

People involved

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