This Writer Crush Wednesday, I’m sharing a passage from a book I finally read last year. Yes, last year! But this excerpt is so good I’m still thinking about these few paragraphs months and months later. I’ll probably always think about them. They’re from Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina at the very moment Anna and Count Vronsky succumb to their passions. I won’t ruin it by trying to explain all that’s going on here. Just read.
He felt what a murderer must feel, when he sees the body he has robbed of life. That body, robbed by him of life, was their love, the first stage of their love. There was something awful and revolting in the memory of what had been bought at this fearful price of shame. Shame at their spiritual nakedness crushed her and infected him. But in spite of all the murderer’s horror before the body of his victim, he must hack it to pieces, hide the body, must use what he has gained by his murder.
And with fury, as it were with passion, the murderer falls on the body, and drags it and hacks at it; so he covered her face and shoulders with kisses. She held his hand, and did not stir. “Yes, these kisses–that is what has been bought by this shame. Yes, and one hand, which will always be mine–the hand of my accomplice.” She lifted up that hand and kissed it. He sank on his knees and tried to see her face; but she hid it, and said nothing. At last, as though making an effort over herself, she got up and pushed him away. Her face was still as beautiful, but it was only the more pitiful for that.
“All is over,” she said; “I have nothing but you. Remember that.”
This is how I want to write when I grow up.
I’m a bit ashamed to say I’ve never read, Anna Karenina. What fantastic writing! I remember as a child looking up at the three flights of my local library, and literally getting tears in my eyes at the thought of all the books I’d never have time to read in life. This is one I’m making a point of ordering, thanks to you. 🙂
Oh, Kim. That is so sad, but I love the image of you as a girl with tears in your eyes at this thought. It’s beautiful and I feel that way too. I guess we just have to trust that the right books will find us. Let’s hope so!
You are right, Christ. I still feel this way, silly isn’t it??? 🙂
Not silly at all. I hope one day they can invent a way to download and absorb all books into our brains.
Smiling with a great big s.i.g.h. 😊😊😊
It gave me shivers! I’ve not read this, but it is on my list now. Reading more, I am sure I’ll want to be that kind of writer when I grow up too.
A must-read-before-you-die book for sure!
Hopefully that give me some time!