“He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.”
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A heart-breaking tale that touches the very essence of human desire and fear: What if what you have always wanted doesn't bring you the happiness you imagined? What happens once that happiness isn't enough any longer?
Tolstoy has once again written masterfully and with striking force, conveying such raw emotions about betrayal, passion, self-doubt, selfishness, hypocrisy, and jealousy, that has given me emotional whiplash throughout the story. Full of characters that I loved to hate (yes, I said it, and I'm not even sorry), I have never been so frustrated and entertained while reading a classic.
Come for the scandalous 18th century Russian aristocracy. Stay for the opinions on the Russian land reform and the emotional roller coaster.