Tolstoy on Shakespeare: A Critical Essay on Shakespeare

In this thoughtful essay, a celebrated novelist turns his critical eye toward the playwright whose name has become synonymous with literary greatness. He recounts decades of personal struggle, repeatedly confronting the towering reputation of the Bard only to encounter boredom, repulsion, and a deep sense that the universal praise may be misplaced. By revisiting the works in multiple languages and translations, he lays bare the inner conflict between his own aesthetic sensibilities and the dominant cultural consensus.

The author argues that Shakespeare’s supposed genius is more myth than merit, suggesting that the reverence bestowed upon his dramas distorts both artistic and moral judgment. Using the famously lauded tragedy of King Lear as a case study, he challenges the prevailing readings of its power and emotional grip, inviting listeners to reconsider what truly constitutes greatness in literature.