In which Levin is introduced to the varied company and leisurely amusements of a gentleman’s club, where the humour and camaraderie hint at deeper truths beneath the veneer of idle pursuits. His chance encounter with Stepan Arkadyevitch and Vronsky paves the way for social rapprochement, marked by a shared game and an invitation to an evening visit.

In which Levin accompanies Stepan Arkadyevitch to visit Anna, a woman of remarkable composure and quietly complex circumstance, whose life is marked by a dignified struggle between society’s strictures and her own inner resources. They enter her modest study, where Levin is struck by a portrait that captures her enchanting presence, and then meets in person a woman whose living beauty and subtle charm both resemble and transcend the image before him.

In which Levin visits Anna Arkadyevna and finds himself warmly welcomed into her lively and intelligent company, where art, education, and personal convictions are discussed with candour and spirited insight. Through their conversation, he perceives the complexity of her character—at once graceful, witty, and burdened with a poignant sincerity that evokes both admiration and compassion.

In which Levin attends a concert featuring a fantasia inspired by King Lear and struggles to comprehend the new, disjointed style of music, feeling both bewildered and wearied by the experience. Amidst the applause and discourse, he debates with a musical connoisseur on the nature of art and music, while also engaging with acquaintances on various worldly matters.

In which Levin navigates a social gathering at Countess Bola’s house with a mixture of awkwardness and detachment, engaging in trivial conversation that leaves him feeling somewhat out of place. Later, at a public meeting, he mingles with acquaintances and reflects on his own hesitant remarks, before returning home to the comfort of familiar faces.

In which Levin returns to a familiar Moscow club, where the comfortable routine and convivial company soothe him after a period of intellectual strain. Surrounded by acquaintances and the hum of spirited conversation, he partakes in light-hearted tales, good cheer, and camaraderie that momentarily lift the weight of the world.

In which Levin navigates the social obligations and domestic concerns of Moscow life, grappling with the peculiarities of urban expenditure and the subtle strains it places upon his household's finances. Amidst these everyday preoccupations, his thoughts turn to the promise of intellectual engagement and the practical necessities that tether him to family and society.

In which Levin visits the city to engage with old acquaintances and new intellectual companions, finding himself enthralled yet quietly sceptical of the prevailing theories debated among learned men. His day culminates in a university meeting where conflicting views underscore the vitality and division of thought in matters both scientific and political, leaving Levin thoughtful and resolved to pursue his own path.

In which the lively discourse between friends unfolds amidst the gentle hum of domestic life, touching upon the trials and triumphs of educating one’s children with a blend of love, modesty, and sincere concern for character formation. The convivial atmosphere is enlivened by the arrival of a graceful lady and the weaving together of social plans, illustrating the delicate balance of personal duty and societal engagement.

In which Anna endures the anxious days of Vronsky’s absence, wrestling with the coldness she perceives in his parting glance and her own restless fears about their precarious bond. Upon his return, their reunion is coloured by tension and unspoken doubts, prompting Anna to confront the necessity of securing a formal union to preserve their troubled togetherness.