Anna Karenina (Maude Translation)

Considered a pinnacle in realist fiction, Anna Karenina was hailed by Tolstoy as his first real novel, with Dostoevsky declaring it to be "flawless as a work of art". This sentiment was echoed by Vladimir Nabokov, who praised the "flawless magic of Tolstoy's style", and by William Faulkner, who lauded it as "the best ever written". Recent recognition of the novel's greatness comes from a 2007 poll of 125 contemporary authors conducted by J. Peder Zane in The Top Ten, which ranked Anna Karenina as the "greatest novel ever written".

The plot revolves around a bachelor named Vronsky, who is willing to marry Anna if she agrees to leave her husband Karenin, a government official. However, Anna finds herself torn between societal pressures, personal insecurities, and Karenin's indecision. Despite eventually eloping with Vronsky to Europe, they struggle to integrate into society and are met with social ostracism upon their return to Russia. Anna becomes increasingly isolated and anxious, while Vronsky continues to lead a vibrant social life. Despite Vronsky's reassurances, Anna's possessiveness and paranoia about his fidelity grow.

The Maude translation of Anna Karenina, completed by Aylmer Maude (1858-1938) and Louise Shanks Maude (1855-1939), is highly esteemed by scholars. This unabridged and annotated version, originally published in 1918, is considered a classic translation of Tolstoy's work. The Maudes were known for their direct collaboration with Tolstoy himself, earning his personal approval for their translations.

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