The True Story of Konstantin Levin

Pavel Basinsky is a writer, journalist, and literary historian. His captivating documentary books about the life and work of Leo Tolstoy, such as “Leo Tolstoy: Flight from Heaven,” “Saint vs. Leo,” and “Leo in the Shadow of Leo,” have reignited public interest in the phenomenon of the “Yasnaya Polyana apostle.” His book “The True Story of Anna Karenina” received the Big Book literary prize.
His new book, “The True Story of Konstantin Levin,” continues this literary exploration.
By revisiting Tolstoy’s most enigmatic work, along with his drafts and diaries, Basinsky seeks to uncover answers to numerous questions. Why is Konstantin Levin essential to “Anna Karenina”? Why does Tolstoy dedicate half of his novel to Levin, both with and without Kitty? How is Levin reflected in other characters in the novel, such as Oblonsky, Vronsky, Anna, and even Karenin? Who served as the prototype for Konstantin Levin? Was it Tolstoy himself, or is the truth, as usual, more complex?

Moscow: Elena Shubina’s Editorial Office, 2023.