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HIS EVALUATION OF OTHER ARTISTS
Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)
"Let us move to Tolstoy. A genuine giant. But this giant has the heart of a child. This is something tremendous. In a way, he is the masterpiece of realism. I am going to write you longer about Tolstoy's narrative technique¾neither marvellous nor simple, and thus how difficult. [...] Next to Tolstoy, Dostoievsky and the others¾with your permission¾appear to be tricksters. I have seen very few artists aside from Tolstoy, who do not deign to engage in tricks. Even though he may, on occasion, engage in cleverness, it is the child-like cleverness of a giant. It cannot be otherwise, one who trusts his strength, is not cunning and clever."
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