What Is Art? · Chapter
The Author’s Preface explained
Tolstoy explains the history of his book 'What Is Art?', detailing how it was mutilated by Russian censors after he agreed to compromises to get it published.
What happens
Tolstoy explains the history of his book 'What Is Art?', detailing how it was mutilated by Russian censors after he agreed to compromises to get it published. He describes the alterations made by Professor Grote and the Spiritual Censor, which distorted his views, and he now presents the work in its true form.
Themes in this chapter
Perversion of Art by Professionalism and Gain
Tolstoy's compromise with the censor for publication illustrates how institutional and professional pressures can distort artistic integrity.
Characters to notice
- Leo Tolstoy
Author of the book, recounts his experience with censorship and compromise.
- Professor Grote
Editor of a Moscow psychological magazine who persuaded Tolstoy to publish the work and made initial alterations.
- Jesus Christ
Mentioned in the context of the Censor substituting Tolstoy's reference to Christ's truth with the dogma of Redemption.
Key passages
“I was weak enough to agree to this, and it has resulted in a book appearing, under my name, from which not only have some essential thoughts been excluded, but into which the thoughts of other men—even thoughts utterly opposed to my own convictions—have been introduced.”
Tolstoy admits his weakness in agreeing to alterations, leading to a published work that misrepresents his views.
Illustrates the theme of compromise and its consequences.
“I have narrated all this in such detail because it strikingly illustrates the indubitable truth, that all compromise with institutions of which your conscience disapproves—compromises which are usually made for the sake of the general good—instead of producing the good you expected, inevitably lead you not only to acknowledge the institution you disapprove of, but also to participate in the evil that institution produces.”
Tolstoy explains that compromising with institutions one disapproves of ultimately leads to endorsing and participating in their harmful actions.
Key moral lesson from the preface.