GMALL Lectures - Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina' and the Meaning of Life

Julie Cassiday, Professor of Russian at Williams College, examines Tolstoy’s masterwork, paying special attention to its historical context, so that we can understand why a novel written almost a century and a half ago continues to enthrall readers and offer insights about the meaning of life.

[mellomojared]

Wow. I could go hours listening to her lecture.

[closerlookbooks]

What a great lecture. It is obvious that the professor has lived with the novel in a significant way.

[antidepressant]

The woman is worth listening to. She knows her stuff.

[overgrindnico]

This is the most impactful review, analysis, lecture, or whatever you wanna call it that i’ve ever listened to! Ms Julie you have changed the way I think about books forever, Thank you!

[Not-Impressed..]

This is the exact price of music I've been listening throughout my reading of Anna Karenina. The one at the beginning of this lecture.
It made the experience so wholesome and deep.
Tolstoy and Mozart. What a duo.

[janesmith]

I just finished rereading AK after many years (the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation), and I feel that I understood it better now being older. Thank you to Prof. Cassiday for the enlightening lecture. I decided yesterday to immediately reread AK and make my own notes and follow up on all the footnotes in my translation. As the Professor said, context adds multiple dimensions to our understanding, and I’m grateful for her thought-provoking insights.

[chiutopian]

The lecturer truly embraces Tolstoy’s novel. Great explanation.

[OmarTravelAdventures]

So amazing. Thank you Youtube for making this possible and thank you GNAT!!!

[leahwoodworth]

Oh my - well done, well done. On my third reading, and this wonderful lecture will enrich it so, particularly her explanation of the geographic settings and what Tolstoy was doing/saying with them.

[syedbukhari]

You make me want to reread it. Her suicide and the pages leading up to it were so gripping. Also, can’t believe I skipped over the subtle details Tolstoy inserted here and there.

[sseno]

Love love her knowledge ❤, I grew up in Russian culture and I’m glad to listening the analysis

[oxanasf]

I read it when I was 15, and I have the idea of reading it again with the expectation that I will discover a lot.

[RossMcgowanMaths]

Just finished this book. I have decided this will be the first book in my life that I will re-read. I have decided also that this re-read will be a deep dive with my own annotations (my first ever). I never even noticed - Vengence is mine ; I will repay. Looking forward to a deep dive. I will use whatever you tube videos I can find that will help me. Thank you for this.

[tommy]

This was fantastic and great insight. Thank you!

[rosad]

Wow, loved this lecture.
Listening after watching one of the older movies on you tube.
I always loved Russian History, being a Kiwi I haven’t been much exposed to it but will be sure to watch many more lectures by Julie.

[tingliz]

Amazing explanation of the last section.

[louisecalenda]

Wonderful how you explained this novel thank you smart and educated woman aiam not educated as well as you but I have a very hi iou and love listening to educated people

[alhadraje]

Thanks for the lecture Prof.Cassidy. It helped me to understand the novel much better. I will search for your lectures on other books as well.

[CJStew]

I'm on my first read and this is such amazing context to have—thank you!

[claudeproust]

Its interesting to compare this novel with Middlemarch. Both novels cover the big social picture and the individuals within it, each one struggling. But in Middlemarch there's the authorial voice