Anna Karenina

By: Leo Tolstoy

Narrated by: Toby Stephens, Full Cast

Tolstoy's story of one woman's fate is brought powerfully to life in this BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation starring Teresa Gallagher and Toby Stephens. Anna Karenina enjoys a privileged and aristrocratic lifestyle as the wife of influential government official Alexy Karenin. Yet their ten-year marriage is devoid of tenderness, and when Anna falls in love with the handsome Count Vronsky they embark upon a deep and passionate affair. Reflecting the social conditions of the era in which it was written, Tolstoy's masterpiece sets a doomed love story against a harsh and unforgiving backdrop.

Good job by all!

I liked the story in this form. All the political stuff and philosophy was happily omitted to keep this entertaining. I would have liked the remainder of the tale fleshed out even more but since this was a long book to dramatize I guess they could only do so much. I thought that Dolly’s death scene and events afterward were too squeezed in and the impact of what she had done and the aftermath were strangely ill told story wise. But all in all, good for what it was. Toby Stephens and the actor who plays Kareninan were outstanding.

Excellent dramatization & production by BBC

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, entertaining rendition of classic book.

What did you like best about this story?

Intelligently told

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Plot and acting on this audiobook held your interest.

Any additional comments?

Realistic characters moving toward their fate.