ANNA KARENINA

Maggie Gyllenhaal lends her husky voice to Tolstoy's challenging morality tale of forbidden love in a repressive society. Anna, married with a child and deeply unhappy, meets and falls in love with dashing, handsome, well-respected Count Vronsky. Unable to resist her feelings, Anna leaves her husband and son for Vronsky. In order to be with Anna, Vronsky gives up his spotless reputation. Their public defiance of society's norms has tragic results. Gyllenhaal glides smoothly over the many Russian names and juggles all the convoluted subplots and complex characters handily. Her reading is intelligent and coolly detached, although the objective distance may be a little understated for such passionate, emotional material. Even if you've read this classic literary treasure, listening makes it even better. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2016]