Anna Karenina

Tideland Press edition.

The opening lines of *Anna Karenina*—'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way'—are among the most recognizable in all of literature. They offer a stark and immediate plunge into the complexities of human relationships, a promise of drama and introspection that few other novels can match. To pick up *Anna Karenina* today is to encounter a world both distant and startlingly familiar, a portrait of societal pressures and personal desires that resonates across generations. It is a story that asks us to consider the cost of passion, the constraints of convention, and the enduring search for meaning in a world often defined by superficiality.

About the author: Leo Tolstoy, born in 1828 and dying in 1910, was a Russian novelist, short story writer, playwright, and essayist, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of all time. *Anna Karenina*, published in installments between 1875 and 1877, represents a high point in his literary output, following his earlier success with *War and Peace*. Tolstoy’s own life—marked by privilege, personal tragedy, and a profound spiritual crisis—deeply informed his writing. His aristocratic upbringing gave him intimate access to the world of Russian high society, which he portrays with both affection and critique in *Anna Karenina*. His later years were characterized by a rejection of conventional religious and social structures, a quest for a simpler, more authentic existence that is reflected in Levin's agrarian ideals.

This edition includes:

• An original 312-word introduction by Lion's Mark Library, situating the work for the contemporary reader.
• A focused 220-word biography of the author and their context.
• Lion Library house typesetting and editorial standards.
• Source verified against the cleanest available public-domain text.

Lion Library republishes carefully chosen public-domain works in editions designed to be read, kept, and returned to.