Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Anna Karenina, Book 2
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- Narrator: LibriVox Volunteers
- Length: 05:39:51
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2016
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Romance, Historical Romance
- ISBN13: SABLIB9782151
The first time I heard Tolstoy’s words whispered through my headphones, I was crossing the Ural Mountains on the Trans-Siberian Railway, watching birch forests blur into endless white. That memory came rushing back as I immersed myself in this LibriVox recording of “Anna Karenina, Book 2” – a perfect companion for long journeys and contemplative evenings alike.
Tolstoy’s Russia unfolds like a matryoshka doll of human complexity in this second installment. As someone who’s spent years documenting how landscapes shape personal narratives, I’m struck by how Tolstoy uses the Russian winter as both setting and character. The crunch of snow under Levin’s boots as he retreats to his estate, the frost forming on Anna’s breath as she defies society – these are the details that make the audiobook experience so visceral. The LibriVox volunteers capture this wintry atmosphere through their varied but earnest performances, though the recording quality fluctuates like St. Petersburg’s social fortunes.
Book 2’s exploration of societal hypocrisy particularly resonated with me after witnessing similar dualities during my time in Oaxaca, where public piety often masked private rebellions. Anna’s predicament – expected to maintain appearances while her heart rebels – mirrors what I’ve observed in traditional communities worldwide. The multiple narrators handle these cultural tensions with sensitivity, though some voices convey the aristocratic restraint better than others.
What makes this free audiobook special is how it preserves Tolstoy’s intricate character studies. Levin’s agricultural experiments remind me of conversations with Chilean campesinos about their connection to the land – that same search for meaning through labor. The scene where he mows alongside peasants contains such profound quietude that I found myself pausing the audio just to absorb it, much like I’d pause to watch the Altiplano sunset.
The narration’s greatest strength lies in conveying emotional intimacy. When Kitty, heartbroken, takes the waters abroad, you can hear the narrator’s voice tremble with her fever. The sections dealing with Anna and Vronsky’s escalating affair benefit from particularly nuanced delivery, though the transitions between volunteer readers can be jarring – like changing trains mid-journey.
Compared to professional productions, this LibriVox version lacks polish but gains authenticity. There’s something fitting about a crowd-sourced reading of a novel that examines communal judgment. The variations in accent and pacing inadvertently mirror the different social circles gossiping about Anna’s scandal.
For listeners new to Russian literature, I’d suggest keeping a character list handy (the multiple Alexeis still trip me up). But the reward is worth it – Tolstoy’s psychological insight remains unmatched. When Anna whispers “I’m lost to myself,” it’s as devastating today as in 1877.
This audiobook particularly shines in Levin’s rural chapters. The descriptions of his estate work transported me back to my grandfather’s farm in Puerto Rico – that same earthy wisdom emerging from daily labor. Tolstoy understood, as all great travel writers do, that place is never just backdrop; it’s an active participant in our moral dilemmas.
With a traveler’s curiosity and a storyteller’s heart, Marcus
Marcus Rivera
