THis novel is based on a story of a character Anna, who is married and the mother of a child and who falls in love with another man and the tragedy that ensues. Tolstoy portrayed Anna as a victim of social revenge with a generous sympathy. Anna is described as the daughter of Tolstoy's mind. After many thought-provoking adventures, it was this novel that brought Tolstoy to the philanthropic theory, which inspired even Gandhiji.