If you think Tolstoy only wrote about French invasions and philosophical aristocrats, this book will be a revelation. It's a deep, quiet look at the most common human institution: marriage.

The Story

The plot is deceptively simple. We meet Masha, a young, romantic woman of seventeen, who falls deeply in love with the much older Sergei. They marry, convinced their passionate connection will make them the exception to all unhappy marriages. The first year is a blissful dream. Then, reality sets in. The intense, all-consuming love begins to cool into routine. Small irritations—a careless remark, a forgotten chore—start to feel like betrayals. They stop truly seeing each other, becoming two lonely people sharing a home. Tolstoy doesn't need dramatic affairs or huge fights; the tragedy is in the slow, silent drift apart.

Why You Should Read It

This book floored me with its honesty. Tolstoy isn't judging his characters; he's just showing us how it happens. The way he captures those tiny, unspoken moments of disappointment is genius. You'll find yourself thinking, 'I've felt that,' or 'I've seen that happen.' It’s not a cynical book, but a deeply compassionate and clear-eyed one. It made me think about the work love requires after the initial spark fades, in a way no modern self-help book ever could.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves character-driven stories and doesn't need a fast-paced plot. If you enjoyed the relationship dramas in novels by authors like Jane Austen or George Eliot, but want something grittier and less polished, this is for you. It's also a great, shorter entry point into Tolstoy's world. Be warned: it might just be the most insightful and slightly terrifying book about marriage ever written.