Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. One of literature's most beloved and enduring female protagonists is Anna Karenina. An unmatched story of exceptional depth and density is dominated by her irresistible appeal. This book, which Tolstoy regarded as his first serious effort at a novel form, explores the fundamental issues of society on all levels, including fate, death, interpersonal relationships, and the insurmountable conflicts of existence. It has a tragic ending and contains many depressing elements, but these are balanced with an abundance of delight in life's many fleeting joys and a plethora of comic relief.