THE PEDAGOGICAL REVIEWS FOR L. TOLSTOY’S COMEDY "THE FIRST DISTILLER" (1886-1896)
The article considers for the first time the pedagogical reviews for L. Tolstoy’s comedy “The First Distiller” (1886-1896). The conclusion is that this work was perceived in the pedagogical environment as a product of another misconception of Tolstoy. The play was described as a failed literary illustration of his social ethics; Tolstoy was said to be slandering people; the symbolic images and pictures of the comedy were not accepted; it was claimed that the writer lost his literary talent and should stop his enlightening activity.