This Russian novelist dropped out of college after 3 years & then wrote "Anna Karenina"
This is where Russian patronymics come in handy: 
Vronsky is Alexis ... After Kitty has refused Levin in favor of Vronsky, she goes to a 
ball (along .... Lydia is in love with Karenin, and she's more than willing to help 
him out.