Anna Karenina p.2

May 21, 2021

In this installment, Anna grapples with her affair, while Kitty's faith wavers amidst personal turmoil. Levin's struggle with farming practices unveils his discontent with societal views. The dynamic social circles of St. Petersburg offer a revealing backdrop for Anna's choices, leading to emotional confrontations with her husband. The podcast also explores Kitty's transformative spa experience and the symbolism in a horse race that escalates Anna's journey. Lastly, themes of aristocracy and modernity intertwine with Tolstoy's deeper moral reflections.

46:26

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ANECDOTE

Hosts' Drink Picks

Matt describes drinking a Jack and Coke as his routine drink on the show.
Cameron shares a specific white yuzu ale from Kyoto Beer and recommends it if you can find it.

insights

INSIGHT

Part Two's Structural Balance

Part Two of Anna Karenina covers Anna revealing her affair and Levin's farming preoccupations.
The hosts emphasize the novel's mix of social scandal scenes and quieter philosophical threads.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Kitty's 'TB' Misdiagnosis

Kitty is misdiagnosed with tuberculosis and really just suffers from heartbreak.
Her family decides a trip abroad will cure her despite uncertain medical reasoning.

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What are we drinking today?

01:40 • 2min

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How does Part Two of Anna Karenina begin?

03:13 • 2min

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Why does Dolly reconcile but remain unhappy?

05:21 • 1min

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What social circles shape Anna's life in St. Petersburg?

06:41 • 4min

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How does Karenin react to Anna and Vronsky?

10:46 • 2min

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What happens when Anna confesses to Vronsky?

13:10 • 20sec

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What occupies Levin in Part Two?

13:30 • 2min

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What happens on the boys' shooting weekend?

15:18 • 1min

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How does the horse race escalate Anna and Vronsky's story?

16:41 • 3min

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What is Kitty's spa experience in Germany?

20:02 • 1min

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Why is Varenka important to Kitty's growth?

21:30 • 2min

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How does Kitty return to Moscow changed?

23:31 • 47sec

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What symbolic meaning does the horse race carry?

24:18 • 4min

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Why include the girls' spa subplot?

28:32 • 4min

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What does Levin argue about aristocracy and land?

32:43 • 3min

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How did Russian titles and inheritance work?

36:12 • 3min

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How do estate management problems reflect modernization issues?

39:21 • 1min

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What does Steva reveal about living for the moment?

40:24 • 2min

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How does Part Two tie into Tolstoy's larger themes?

42:31 • 2min

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What are we reading next week?

The Unwomanly Face of War

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Svetlana Alexievitch

"The Unwomanly Face of War" by Svetlana Alexievich is a powerful collection of oral histories from Soviet women who served in World War II. Through intimate interviews, Alexievich unveils the experiences of women as soldiers, nurses, and partisans, revealing the often-overlooked aspects of war. The book explores themes of trauma, memory, and the human cost of conflict. It challenges traditional narratives of war by highlighting the unique perspectives and sacrifices of women. Alexievich's work provides a poignant and essential contribution to the literature of war, offering a profound reflection on courage, suffering, and the enduring impact of conflict on individual lives.

#82

• Mentioned in 149 episodes

War and Peace

Leo Tolstoy

Set during the Napoleonic Wars, 'War and Peace' follows the lives of several Russian aristocratic families, including the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs, and the Bolkonskys. The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis. It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth. The novel includes historical events such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, and the French invasion of Russia, intertwining historical and fictional elements.

#130

• Mentioned in 111 episodes

Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy

Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century. The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg. The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate. Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life. The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.

#1357

• Mentioned in 21 episodes

What Is to Be Done?

Michael R. Katz

William G. Wagner

Nikolai Chernyshevsky

Written in 1863 by Nikolai Chernyshevsky, 'What Is to Be Done? ' is a novel that had a significant influence on Russian revolutionary thought. The story follows Viéra Pavlovna, a young woman who seeks economic independence and starts a cooperative workshop for seamstresses. The novel promotes the creation of small socialist cooperatives, advocates for women's rights, and critiques the patriarchal and authoritarian structures of Russian society. It was written in response to Ivan Turgenev's 'Fathers and Sons' and played a central role in polarizing the Russian intelligentsia between radical and liberal reformers. The novel's impact was so profound that it contributed to the conflicts leading up to the Russian Revolution.

Show Notes:

This week, Matt and Cameron continue the Summer of Anna Karenina with Part 2 of Leo Tolstoy’s canon-defining work Anna Karenina. Come join us as Anna reveals her affair to her husband, Kitty finds (and then quickly loses) religion, and Levin...thinks about farming. He also chastises his peasants for farming not the way he wants them to. Scintillating stuff. Also, Sativa’s still on the bread thing like half a year later. There are a lot of fun details to go over, so tune in!

Major themes: Anna = Frou-Frou?, Tolstoy not being terribly self-aware, FARMING.

04:46 - This is a common Slavic folk medicine method, rubbing spirits on someone’s chest. I have it on good authority from a Ukranian friend of mine that it actually seems to help with congestion.

07:07 - Take a shot every time I say ‘Betty’ instead of Betsy.

07:54 - Don’t you dare clip that out of context.

The music used in this episode was “soviet march,” by Toasted Tomatoes. You can find more of their work on Bandcamp and Youtube.

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