Anna Karenina (The Margellos World Republic of Letters)

Tolstoy produced many drafts of __Anna Karenina__. Crafting and recrafting each sentence with careful intent, he was anything but casual in his use of language. His project, translator Marian Schwartz observes, “was to bend language to his will, as an instrument of his aesthetic and moral convictions.” In her magnificent new translation, Schwartz embraces Tolstoy’s unusual style—she is the first English language translator ever to do so. Previous translations have departed from Tolstoy’s original, “correcting” supposed mistakes and infelicities. But Schwartz uses repetition where Tolstoy does, wields a judicious cliché when he does, and strips down descriptive passages as he does, re-creating his style in English with imagination and skill. Tolstoy’s romantic Anna, long-suffering Karenin, dashing Vronsky, and dozens of their family members, friends, and neighbors are among the most vivid characters in world literature. In the thought-provoking Introduction to this volume, Gary Saul Morson provides unusual insights into these characters, exploring what they reveal about Tolstoy’s radical conclusions on romantic love, intellectual dishonesty, the nature of happiness, the course of true evil, and more. For readers at every stage—from students first encountering Anna to literary professionals revisiting the novel—this volume will stand as the English reader’s clear first choice. Tolstoy Produced Many Drafts Of Anna Karenina. Crafting And Recrafting Each Sentence With Careful Intent, He Was Anything But Casual In His Use Of Language. His Project, Translator Marian Schwartz Observes, Was To Bend Language To His Will, As An Instrument Of His Aesthetic And Moral Convictions. In Her Magnificent New Translation, Schwartz Embraces Tolstoy's Unusual Style - She Is The First English Language Translator Ever To Do So. Previous Translations Have Departed From Tolstoy's Original, Correcting Supposed Mistakes And Infelicities. But Schwartz Uses Repetition Where Tolstoy Does, Wields A Judicious Cliché When He Does, And Strips Down Descriptive Passages As He Does, Re-creating His Style In English With Imagination And Skill. Tolstoy's Romantic Anna, Long-suffering Karenin, Dashing Vronsky, And Dozens Of Their Family Members, Friends, And Neighbors Are Among The Most Vivid Characters In World Literature. In The Thought-provoking Introduction To This Volume, Gary Saul Morson Provides Unusual Insights Into These Characters, Exploring What They Reveal About Tolstoy's Radical Conclusions On Romantic Love, Intellectual Dishonesty, The Nature Of Happiness, The Course Of True Evil, And More. For Readers At Every Stage - From Students First Encountering Anna To Literary Professionals Revisiting The Novel - This Volume Will Stand As The English Reader's Clear First Choice. --from Book Description, Amazon.com. Introduction: The Moral Urgency Of Anna Karenina / By Gary Saul Morson -- Anna Karenina. Leo Tolstoy ; Translated From The Russian By Marian Schwartz ; Edited With An Introduction By Gary Saul Morson. English Translation Is Based On The Russian Text In: L. N. Tolstoy, Polnoe Sobranie Sochinenii V 90 Tomakh, Vols. 18-19. Moscow: Khudozhestvennaia Literatura, 1929-1958. Includes Bibliographical References. Described by William Faulkner as the best novel ever written and by Fyodor Dostoevsky as “flawless,” Anna Karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious Anna and the dashing officer, Count Vronsky. Tragedy unfolds as Anna rejects her passionless marriage and thereby exposes herself to the hypocrisies of society. Set against a vast and richly textured canvas of nineteenth-century Russia, the novel's seven major characters create a dynamic imbalance, playing out the contrasts of city and country life and all the variations on love and family happiness. In nineteenth-century Russia, the wife of an important government official loses her family and social status when she chooses the love of Count Vronsky over a passionless marriage. Publication of this exacting new translation of Tolstoy's great Anna signifies a literary event of the first magnitude