Character guide

Count Alexey Kirillovitch Vronsky

major

Also known as Vronsky, Count Kirill Ivanovitch Vronsky, Count Vronsky, Alexey Kirillovitch

A wealthy cavalry officer whose passionate affair with Anna Karenina sets the tragic plot in motion.

Anna Arkadyevna Karenina

major

Also known as Anna, Anna Karenina, Madame Karenina

The charismatic and passionate protagonist, trapped in a loveless marriage, who risks everything for love.

Alexey Alexandrovitch Karenin

major

Also known as Karenin, Alexey Alexandrovitch

Anna's husband, a high-ranking government official known for his rigid morality and emotional reserve.

Konstantin Dmitrievitch Levin

major

Also known as Levin, Konstantin Levin, Kostya, Kostya Levin

A thoughtful, introspective landowner who seeks meaning in life, love, and work on his country estate.

Kitty Shcherbatskaya

major

Also known as Kitty, Princess Shtcherbatskaya, Kitty Shtcherbatskaya, Kitty Levin

The youngest Shcherbatsky sister, whose romantic journey and marriage to Levin form a central storyline.

Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky

supporting

Also known as Stiva, Prince Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky, Oblonsky, Prince Oblonsky

Anna's charming, pleasure-loving brother, whose affair opens the novel and who connects the main characters.

Darya Alexandrovna Oblonskaya

supporting

Also known as Dolly, Darya Alexandrovna, Darya

Stiva's long-suffering wife, Kitty's older sister, and a close friend to both Anna and Levin.

Nikolay Dmitrievitch Levin

minor

Also known as Nikolay Levin, brother Nikolay, Nikolay

Konstantin Levin's consumptive, nihilist brother, whose tragic life deeply affects Levin.

Sergey Ivanovitch Koznishev

minor

Also known as Koznishev, Sergey Ivanovitch, the celebrated Koznishev

Levin's intellectual half-brother, a well-known author and philosopher.

Seryozha Karenin

minor

Also known as Seryozha

The young son of Anna and Alexey Alexandrovitch Karenin.

Vassenka Veslovsky

minor

Also known as Veslovsky, Vassenka

A cheerful, somewhat tactless young nobleman who visits Levin's estate and flirts with Kitty.

Countess Lidia Ivanovna

minor

Also known as Countess Lidia Ivanovna, Lidia Ivanovna, Lidia

A pious society lady who becomes Karenin's close confidante and advisor after his separation from Anna.

Mihailov

minor

A talented but socially awkward painter in Italy whom Vronsky and Anna commission for a portrait.

Princess Betsy Tverskaya

minor

Also known as Betsy, Princess Betsy, Princess Tverskaya

A fashionable and morally lax society hostess, cousin to Vronsky and friend to Anna.

Mademoiselle Varenka

minor

Also known as Varenka

The gentle, self-sacrificing companion of Madame Stahl, whom Kitty befriends at a German spa.

Nikolay Ivanovitch Sviazhsky

minor

Also known as Sviazhsky, Nikolay Ivanovitch

A progressive neighboring landowner and district marshal whose views Levin debates.

Prince Yashvin

minor

Also known as Yashvin

A fellow officer and gambler, Vronsky's closest friend in the regiment.

Agafea Mihalovna

minor

Also known as old Agafea Mihalovna

The elderly, devoted housekeeper on Levin's country estate.

Marya Nikolaevna

minor

Also known as Marya

The devoted but coarse common-law wife of Levin's dying brother, Nikolay.

Madame Stahl

minor

Also known as Stahl

A mysterious, invalid Russian lady at the German spa, revered for her piety.

Petritsky

minor

A fellow officer and roommate of Vronsky's in the barracks.

Countess Nordston

minor

Also known as the Countess Nordston

A sharp-tongued society friend of the Shcherbatskys who mocks Levin's first proposal to Kitty.

Princess Myakaya

minor

Also known as the Princess Myakaya

A blunt and outspoken society lady known for her 'sharp tongue'.

Turovtsin

minor

A good-natured, quiet gentleman often present in Oblonsky's and Betsy's social circles.

Mademoiselle Linon

minor

Also known as Mlle. Linon

The elderly former governess of the Shcherbatsky sisters.

Matvey

minor

Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky's loyal valet.

Lizaveta Petrovna

minor

Also known as Lizaveta

The midwife who attends Kitty during her childbirth.

Korney

minor

Also known as Korney Vassilievitch

Levin's elderly butler at his country estate.

Ryabinin

minor

A shrewd merchant who buys timber from Stepan Oblonsky and later from Levin.

Ivan Parmenov

minor

Also known as Ivan

A peasant on Levin's estate who represents Levin's idealized view of peasant life.

Frou-Frou

minor

Also known as Frou

Vronsky's beloved mare, which he rides in the fateful steeplechase.

Laska

minor

Also known as Gray old Laska, Old Laska

Levin's skilled and beloved hunting dog.

Mitya

minor

The infant son of Levin and Kitty.

Annushka

minor

Anna Karenina's personal maid.

Princess Shcherbatskaya

minor

Also known as Mamma, mamma

Kitty and Dolly's mother, a traditional society matron concerned with her daughters' marriages.

Prince Shcherbatsky

minor

Also known as Papa, papa

Kitty and Dolly's father, an old-fashioned aristocrat skeptical of modern suitors like Vronsky.

Marya Philimonovna

minor

The old nurse in the Oblonsky household who helps care for Dolly's children.

Vassily Lukitch

minor

Seryozha Karenin's French tutor.

Kapitonitch

minor

The kindly old hall-porter at the Karenin residence, devoted to Anna and Seryozha.

Golenishtchev

minor

An old school friend of Vronsky's, a liberal intellectual living in Italy.

Monsieur Landau

minor

Also known as Landau, Jules Landau

A French mystic and 'clairvoyant' who influences Countess Lidia Ivanovna and Karenin.

Professor Katavasov

minor

Also known as Katavasov

A scientist and friend of Sergey Koznishev who visits Levin's estate.

Metrov

minor

A professor whose lecture on biology Levin attends with Katavasov.

Prince Serpuhovskoy

minor

A successful army comrade of Vronsky's who encourages him to pursue a military career.

Mihail Vassilievitch Sludin

minor

Also known as Sludin, Mihail Vassilievitch

A conservative landowner and candidate during the provincial elections Levin attends.

Nevyedovsky

minor

The young, successful candidate elected as provincial marshal with Sviazhsky's support.

Mihail Stepanovitch Snetkov

minor

Also known as Snetkov, Mihail Stepanovitch

The old provincial marshal of nobility whom Levin and his allies oppose in the elections.

Tanya

minor

The eldest daughter of Stepan and Dolly Oblonsky.

Grisha

minor

A young son of Stepan and Dolly Oblonsky.