We Discussed the Reception of "Anna Karenina" in France in Class

We discussed the reception of "Anna Karenina" in France in class. Here, if you please, are some average reviews of the book:

"Despite what the title leads us to suppose, this book is not only the story of Anna, a married woman who falls under the spell of the military man Vronsky, but also the story of [the landowner] Levin and Kitty. I really preferred following them to following Anna and Vronsky, to whom I did not become attached and who rather irritated me."

"I did not have the feeling of reading Anna's story, rather Levin's. Indeed, it is he who is presented the most, and it is his impressions and torments that we observe more. ... We see him develop in many respects: in his personal life, in the management of his estate, even in his views. Anna merely supplements Levin's story."

I always say as much in my lectures. The main character of the novel is not Anna Karenina: the main characters are Anna Karenina and Konstantin Levin. Levin, who personally strikes me as far more sympathetic, interesting and close to my own heart. It is pleasing that the sympathies of French readers coincide with mine.

Indeed, this is Leo Tolstoy's invention: a novel with two protagonists who have no connection with one another and act independently.

And the fact that one can discern in Levin the features of Lev Nikolayevich himself only makes him still more charming and attractive. I love them both with all my heart, my very dearest