The Tolstoy Library

Leo Tolstoy

In these unabridged readings, Tolstoy's stories are returned to the living voice, as they were first imagined: spoken slowly, as one might speak by firelight. They tell of human hearts in search of truth - of suffering that softens us, love that redeems us, and the unseen bonds that join one life to another. Listen patiently. Let the words pass through you. What is true will remain, and what is false will fall away.

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  1. Episode 1

    Anna Karenina Part 1 Chapter 1

    In which the domestic tranquillity of the Oblonsky household is shattered by a discovery that rends the fabric of family and servants alike, leaving an air of confusion and estrangement. Stepan Arkadyevitch awakens to the heavy burden of his own folly, reflecting upon the discord with a mingling of regret and helplessness that colours his every thought.

    7 min

  2. Episode 2

    Anna Karenina Part 1 Chapter 2

    In which Stepan Arkadyevitch contemplates the troubled state of his marriage with a candid and somewhat rueful honesty, wrestling with the discomfort of his own failings and the pain they have wrought upon his household. Amidst the quiet ritual of morning grooming and the attentive presence of his servants, he clings to the hope that the impending visit of his sister may offer some measure of reconciliation and respite from his domestic discord.

    8 min

  3. Episode 3

    Anna Karenina Part 1 Chapter 3

    In which Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky, upon the morning light, observes the small domestic confusions and the quiet dissatisfactions of his daily life whilst perusing newspapers that echo his half-hearted liberal views and handling the demands of his social position. With a heart heavy yet tender, he meets the lively innocence of his children and contemplates the painful estrangement from his wife, resolved to confront the uneasy truths of their fractured union.

    10 min

  4. Episode 4

    Anna Karenina Part 1 Chapter 4

    In which the delicate threads of domestic affection are painfully strained as Darya Alexandrovna faces the torment of her husband’s betrayal, caught between despair and maternal duty, her heart a turbulent sea of love, hate, and helplessness. In the quiet shadow of a troubled household, the fragile balance of family life teeters under the weight of unspoken sorrows and the relentless demands of everyday care.

    12 min

  5. Episode 5

    Anna Karenina Part 1 Chapter 5

    In which the amiable and well-connected Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky presides over a government board in Moscow, revealing both the privileges and the indifference entailed in his official duties, as he encounters old friends amidst the humdrum of bureaucratic life. The arrival of his old companion Levin, marked by contrasting temperaments and unspoken tensions, promises a meeting of minds and hearts paused in the midst of their differing worlds.

    19 min

  6. Episode 6

    Anna Karenina Part 1 Chapter 6

    In which Konstantin Levin visits Moscow harbouring a heartfelt and somewhat shy resolve regarding a matter of the heart connected to the Shtcherbatsky family, whose refined and noble domestic life he has long admired. The story quietly unfolds his inner struggles with self-doubt and societal expectation as he contemplates proposing to Kitty, amidst the familiar yet intricately poised gatherings of old family ties.

    7 min

  7. Episode 7

    Anna Karenina Part 1 Chapter 7

    In which Levin visits his half-brother in Moscow and unexpectedly finds himself amidst a heated philosophical debate on the nature of existence and the relationship between sensation and consciousness. Though the discussion teeters on profound spiritual questions, the interlocutors repeatedly retreat into abstract distinctions, leaving Levin to ponder the elusive boundary between body and soul.

    5 min

  8. Episode 8

    Anna Karenina Part 1 Chapter 8

    In which Levin visits his elder brother Sergey Ivanovitch and contemplates the discord within their family, especially concerning their lost half-brother Nikolay, whose troubled path casts a heavy shadow. Amidst discussions of farming, local governance, and familial strife, Levin wrestles silently with his intentions and obligations before seeking the company of the Shtcherbatskys.

    5 min
See All Season 5 (231)

About

In these unabridged readings, Tolstoy's stories are returned to the living voice, as they were first imagined: spoken slowly, as one might speak by firelight. They tell of human hearts in search of truth - of suffering that softens us, love that redeems us, and the unseen bonds that join one life to another. Listen patiently. Let the words pass through you. What is true will remain, and what is false will fall away.

Information

  • Creator
    Leo Tolstoy
  • Episodes
    287
  • Seasons
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Public domain
  • Show Website
    The Tolstoy Library