Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare
In this essay, published in English in 1906, Leo Tolstoy explains why he could never share the world's admiration for Shakespeare. He retells King Lear scene by scene to show what he considers its improbable plot, unnatural speech and lack of moral purpose, and argues that Shakespeare's reputation was manufactured by German critics and sustained by habit. Behind the attack lies Tolstoy's late conviction that art must express religious feeling and be understood by ordinary people. The translation is by V. Tchertkoff and Isabella Fyvie Mayo, and the volume adds Ernest Crosby's essay on Shakespeare's attitude toward the working classes and a letter from George Bernard Shaw. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
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Frequently asked questions about Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare
Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare by Leo Tolstoy can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare online?
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Is Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare in the public domain?
Yes. Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare by Leo Tolstoy is a public-domain work, here in the translation by V. G. Chertkov and Isabella Fyvie Mayo. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare?
About 2 h 18 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare?
Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare by Leo Tolstoy is filed under "History" in the Vinteuil library.
