Melody’s answer to “am i the only one who felt like Tolstoy was portraying himself through Levin ? and that, well, Levi…” > Likes and Comments

I do agree on the aspect that levin is the personnage i found myself getting attached to the most, but even though i suspected this self projecting technique in the middle of the story, i never perceived any note of exaggeration or "put in the best light" as you mentioned.
Levin is the most likable most probably because he is the most real amongst all the personnages. I felt a roaring human energy emerging from his character which made me go on with my question.

I just found it strange that most all other characters, even if we saw them rarely, such as with Lydia Ivanovna (who is rude to Levin and falls for Alexei, the religious woman with the yellow complexition) or Betsy being infaithful herself, but still refusing to see Anna, had obvious short-coming. But Levin, who holds the second part of the narrative? Hardly any flaws, aside from indecision? Just seemed to me, like he was trying to make Levin seem reasonable in comparison.

I'm also probably biased because Levin reminds me of Slim from Of Mice and Men; Slim is very arguably Steinbeck placing himself in the story, being the voice of reason and all.