Toronto Reference Library Blog

Few literary characters have made as many appearances in film and illustration as Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. From the silent era to the most recent adaptation starring Keira Knightley, generations of leading actresses have played her. Artists have made numerous visual renditions of her too: she appears in illustrated editions published around the world ever since the novel’s serial publication in the 1870s. Each instance of adaptation and illustration not only attests to the enduring appeal of Tolstoy’s novel, but also reveals how filmmakers and audiences have grappled with its themes of passion and adultery.

Timothy Ormond’s talk will discuss the main Russian, American and British film adaptations and show images from twentieth-century Russian illustrated editions, showcasing the work of Nikolai Piskarev, a copy of which is held in the library's Special Collections.

  Timothy Ormond has completed his PhD thesis on Russian and Soviet Illustrations of Anna  Karenina.  He has lectured and taught courses on Soviet cinema, Russian literature and the Russian language.

This free Thought Exchange lecture and slideshow will be held on November 13th, 1:00 -3:00 p.m., in the Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium, Toronto Reference Library.