CREATING ANNA KARENINA Tolstoy and the Birth of Literature's Most Enigmatic Heroine

Actress Gemma Dawson's British training and experience shine in this account of how Tolstoy's ANNA KARENINA was written. Blaisdell's account gives perceptive insights on how, as in WAR AND PEACE, Tolstoy's life is mirrored in the novel. Insights on Tolstoy's family life, especially his relationship with his wife, Sonya, along with his interactions with his servants and his colleagues in the publishing community, are all given in detail. Tolstoy's wife acted as his scribe, and she is probably not given as much credit as she should be for her influence on her husband's work. Dawson's English accent gives an academic tone to this production, and her pacing, inflection, and enunciation are all perfect. She makes this work a most rewarding experience. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2021]