What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAnna Karenina
Film · 2012
If you loved Anna Karenina, start with Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy, 2012) — a book from the same story. Below: 1 book, 2 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Anna Karenina across media.
You were captivated by Anna Karenina because you crave stories that examine the devastating consequences of forbidden desire and societal expectations.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
The Modern Library Collection Essential Russian Novels 4-Book Bundle
Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky · Book · 2012
Shares 2 threads with Anna Karenina: Adultery, Tragedy.
If you were moved by the emotional turbulence of Anna Karenina, this collection provides the perfect opportunity to further explore themes of betrayal and social class through Russian literature.
Series on the same thread
War and Peace
Series · 2016
Shares 2 threads with Anna Karenina: Period Drama, Literary Adaptation.
This adaptation mirrors the sweeping scope of Anna Karenina, grounding its grand narrative of Russian nobility and love within a landscape defined by historical upheaval and personal loss.
Parade's End
Series · 2012
Shares 2 threads with Anna Karenina: Period Drama, Literary Adaptation.
Like the complicated romantic entanglements in Anna Karenina, this drama centers on a fraught love triangle that exposes the rigid social conventions and shifting morality of a changing Europe.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
While the setting differs from Anna Karenina, you will recognize the same intense focus on the intricate web of relationships and community dynamics that define everyday life and conflict.
Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
Esther Perel Global Media · Podcast · 2026
Explores: infidelity, emotional vulnerability, human connection.
This podcast offers a modern, real-world lens on the themes of infidelity and emotional vulnerability that drove the tragic trajectory of the characters in Anna Karenina.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Anna Karenina based on a book?
Yes, the 2012 film Anna Karenina is an adaptation of the classic novel of the same name. Both versions follow the story of Anna, a woman in Imperial Russia who risks her reputation in high society after beginning an affair with an officer named Vronsky.
What is the plot of Anna Karenina?
The story of Anna Karenina centers on a woman married to an officer named Karenin. While traveling to Moscow to visit her brother, she meets the cavalry officer Vronsky. Their immediate attraction leads to a complex relationship that threatens to destroy her standing within St. Petersburg high society.
Should I read the book before watching the 2012 Anna Karenina movie?
You can watch the 2012 film adaptation of Anna Karenina without reading the book first. The movie provides a complete look at the narrative, detailing the social consequences Anna faces in Imperial Russia after meeting the cavalry officer Vronsky while traveling to visit her brother in Moscow.
Is Anna Karenina set in Russia?
Yes, Anna Karenina is set in Imperial Russia. The narrative moves between Moscow, where Anna travels to visit her brother, and St. Petersburg, where the strict social standards of high society create significant conflict for Anna following her attraction to the cavalry officer Vronsky.