Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy
📚 Genre
Literary Fiction, Russian Literature, Tragic Realism
🏢 Publisher
International Collectors Library (ICL), Doubleday & Company, Inc.
📅 Publication Year
c. 1940s-1970s
🔢 ISBN
None (Pre-dates ISBN system or proprietary printing)
About This Book
A classic of 19th-century realism, Anna Karenina explores the themes of betrayal, faith, family, marriage, Imperial Russian society, desire, and rural vs. city life. The story centers on the tragic adulterous affair between Anna and the dashing Count Vronsky, contrasted with the marriage of Konstantin Levin and Kitty Shcherbatskaya. This edition features a faux-leather (leatherette) binding in a burgundy/deep red color with ornate faux-gilt gold leaf scrollwork on the spine and front cover edge.
Book Details
Language
English (translated from the original Russian)
Pages
Approximately 700-1,000 pages depending on the translation/typeface used
Edition
Hardcover, International Collectors Library Subscription Edition
Series
Part of the International Collectors Library book club series
Target Audience
Adult, Academic, General Audience (Classic Literature)
Collector Information
Condition
Good to Very Good. The binding shows light shelf wear, slight rubbing at the corners/edges, and minor discoloration on the surface of the leatherette. The gilt on the spine remains mostly bright and legible.
Estimated Value
$10-$20
Rarity
Common. These subscription editions were mass-produced in very large quantities for home decor and reading clubs. While attractive, they are not rare or sought after by high-end antiquarian collectors.
Historical Significance
Widely considered one of the greatest novels ever written, Tolstoy's work redefined the psychological novel and remains a definitive work of realism. It won no awards in its day (as the Nobel Prize did not yet exist) but has consistently topped 'greatest books' lists for over a century.
Collector Notes
Collectors should note that International Collectors Library books are 'replica bindings' intended for aesthetic appeal rather than high investment value. Value is primarily driven by condition; buyers should look for crisp gilt work and an intact ribbon marker. Keep out of direct sunlight as the faux-leather and glue can become brittle over time.
Similar Books
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Middlemarch by George Eliot
Notable Features
Includes characteristic ICL design elements such as the gold-stamped ornate spine, silk ribbon marker (not visible but standard for this line), and decorative endpapers.