Anna Karenina

By: Leo Tolstoy

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 36 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Tolstoy's masterpiece begins, "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

This is the story of the unhappy family of Anna Karenina. The novel contains much concerning Tolstoy's spiritual crisis and his search for the meaning of life. But it is also chiefly about marriage, and the growth and death of love.

The touching picture of Anna Aarkadyevna Karenina's slow disintegration has fascinated readers for well over a century. Beautiful and charming, Anna lives in a splendid world of her own making. She smokes, rides horseback, plays tennis, takes opium, practices birth control, and (although she is already married) falls in love with a handsome army officer.

Anna's life is played out against a backdrop of dazzling balls and the vastness of Russia's landscape. It is a magnificent story that shimmers with the intensity of intelligence and passion, especially through this superb narration by Davina Porter.

Public Domain (P)1990 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Porter reads magnificently." (Los Angeles Times)

Loved this listen!!!

A beautiful book! It is masterful and brilliant in part because it is as relevant today as when he wrote it. He writes for the patient intelligent reader.... What a great gift he gave us.

54 hours of Russian fun.

It should have been called. Anna Karenina - Levin. Davina did an awesome job. I knew it was a love story but also very philosophical

Great Russian Romance Classic

Would you consider the audio edition of Anna Karenina to be better than the print version?

I really like the audio version. I have not read the print version.

What did you like best about this story?

It is an epic romance, a timeless story. It was well-told and engrossing although lengthy.

Which character – as performed by Davina Porter – was your favorite?

I enjoyed all the characters and her entire performance. She did an excellent job!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Life, love and the winds of revolution in old Russia.

Any additional comments?

A timeless story; relates to all generations.

Glad I got through it.

Where does Anna Karenina rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would say it ranks in the middle. I'm not a huge fan of Russian Literature. I find most of the Russian authors I have been exposed to write rather depressing stories that make it difficult to like the characters or connect with them. I just want the depressing story over with so I can move onto something that is more uplifting.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Anna Karenina?

When it takes a month to finish a book it is hard to say what is most memorable.

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

I first heard Davina Porter in the Outlander series and knew I would enjoy her performance for this book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

There is no way I could sit through this in one sitting. You can't eat a whale in one bite.

Even Better Aloud

This was my first audiobook from Audible. I chose it because I wanted to reread Anna Karenina -- it is a favorite of mine. Hearing it aloud reminded me that until the last century these great novels were meant to be told and read aloud. The capable narration and dramatic interpretation of Davina Porter made it much easier to keep track of the unfamiliar names and story lines and brought each main character to life. As for the story itself, it was one of my favorites and is now even more so with hearing of it and the new insights I got this time around.

Highly recommended!

A good reading of a masterpiece

This is one of my favorite books, I love the characters and the story is so sad and wonderful at the same time. It is well-read and I recommend it for repeat readers of Anna Karenina or first-timers. It is well worth the time investment.

what a great classic

If you could sum up Anna Karenina in three words, what would they be?

Thrilling, epic, loving

What other book might you compare Anna Karenina to and why?

Oh wow, that is hard maybe great expectations, the sinking into the whole aspect of their lives is very enjoyable

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Finding out she was expecting

Davina Porter!

Amazing voice. Perfect for this Tolstoy classic! Porter took me to Russia and gave me access to this tragic tale.

Fascinating book, pleasant narrator

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. The reader's voice was very pleasant and she is able to differentiate characters' voices very well-even the men's voices!

excellent

A brilliant narration of this timeless classic. Anna Karenina is a must-read for everyone at least once. Leo Tolstoy realistically portrays an evolution of human emotions and behavior in relation to romance, marriage, religion, business..