Journey reading list: 3 (Anna Karenina)

I am a firm believer that Russian literature should be read at regular intervals. In my opinion no writers are able to put into words that torment and inner demon which inhabits everyone's soul.

Anna Karenina is often referred to as the greatest novel of all times, Count Tolstoy arguably the most important writer of the so called Russian 'Golden Generation' and Anna Arkadyevna Karenina the most famous and controversial female character to have been created.

These superlatives may seem excessive and perhaps they are, yet when you are reading Tolstoy I find it hard to imagine that anything can even exist beyond the realms of those words and pages. Faulkner and Nabokov are amongst those who have described this book as the greatest work of realist fiction ever and it is easy to see why.

The detailed descriptions of society and everything that entails: people's mentality, habits, the do's and don'ts, way of dressing, cultural interests and so much more are brought to life by Tolstoy like nobody else can. Although the novel can at times feel like sophisticated soap opera, it is an indispensable guide to what life was like in Russia in the mid 19th century. Themes including love, morality, fidelity, honesty, etc are all explored effortlessly. As with his other stalwart novel, War and Peace, it is the autobiographical character that really caputres the reader's imagination and portrays what arguably lies at the heart of Tolstoy's philosophy: the troubled relationship between nobility and the peasants, the admiration and value he placed on the latter and his desire to effectively integrate them into a reformed agricultural society that had just managed to shed the long shadow cast by serfdom. In Anna Karenina that character is Levin and the last chapters are almost entirely dedicated to his struggle with mortality, the purpose of life and the beauty that is to be found in love (and God).

Anna Karenina is very rarely dull although it is nearly 1,000 pages long. It is often moving, funny and inspirational. It is the kind of book that makes you wish you could go back in time as you lose yourself in the world of Tolstoy's Russia. I don't think anybody's library, both physical and mental, would be complete without it.

Treveague

Town: Treveague
Region: Gorran
Date: 6 - 9 July 2010
Journey Time from Bristol: 4 hours
Campsite: Treaveague Farm
Postcode:
Weather: Mixture of sun and rain; windy and cool in evenings.

Lo-down: Gorran and Gorran Haven are both within walking distance of the campsite. Both are cute villages with the latter particularly nice as it is has a little beach and several cliff walks. Although both villages are only a short walk away, Treveague Farm feels isolated and quiet without being remote.

Getting Around: Travelling from the campsite is very easy. You can walk to a beautiful and peaceful beach in less than 15 minutes. There are also various cliff walks allowing you to walk as far as you like - we chose to walk to Gorran Haven and it took about 1.5 hours (there is a shortcut directly back to the campsite which takes little over 15 minutes). You can also jump into the car and drive to the historical harbour town of Mevagissey, St Alban and the Eden Project in about 20 minutes.

Best pub: There are many great pubs in Mevagissey serving nice ales and good seafood. Unfortunately the pub in Gorran Haven was closed or under refurbishment and the isolation of the campsite really told for the only time. The campsite shop sells nice local ales though.

Eating Out: As always the best option was the Barbie. There is a cafe on site which serves breakfast and some food during the day but we didn't try it. There is a lovely cafe serving cream teas in Gorran Haven, right at the end of the cliff walk. Mevagissey has loads of lovely looking restaurants, pubs and cafes and although we only managed to eat in one pub, the food was very tasty.

Amenities: Unlike our previous farm experience (see below), this never really felt like a farm other than the fact that all the pitches are very spacious, the view of the bay is splendid and that the site is surrounded by rolling fields with cows and sheep. The bathrooms were spotless and are cleaned every day. The kitchen where you can wash up has a microwave, a fridge freezer so you can refreeze your ice packs for free and even a drying room for your laundry or anything else. There is also a shop selling local ales, wine and other goods at very reasonable prices. The impression of the campsite was also as being very family friendly with a playground and a little football pitch.

Pitch: The pitches were clearly marked so as to avoid people encroaching on each other. Some of the pitches give you a great view of the bay and you are never too far from the toilets, kitchen or cliff walks.

Perks: The view is great, the campsite is friendly and clean, and the beaches which are only a short walk away are stunning. Although the site is isolated, it is easy to get to other lovely villages and towns without having to drive too long.

Beach: Sandy beaches, clean water and very quiet this almost seems too good to be true.

M's rating: 9/10
B's rating: 8/10