Russian literature in George Moore’s creative quest

The entry of Tolstoy, Turgenev, and Chekhov into world literature, their influence on writers of different countries, international fate of their heritage remains a relevant problem of both domestic and foreign literary studies. The article addresses the problem of creative selectivity of those receiving the literary phenomenon. We analyze the article by the English writer George Moore “Turgenev and Tolstoy in the Light of the Theory of ‘Opposing Currents’”, showing reminiscences from the novels of Turgenev and Tolstoy in “Esther Waters” by George Moore, and raise the question of naturalism and its fruitful adoption based on George Moore’s artistic heritage. The article presents Leo Tolstoy’s assessment of the English naturalist writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is argued that the purpose of a comparative literature study is to establish the genetic and typological essence of the literary process. The study of George Moore’s works in domestic literary studies is continued. George Moore makes a polemical assessment of Tolstoy’s treatise “What Is Art?” But instead of Tolstoy’s concept of art that infects good feelings, George Moore insists that art should primarily infect ideas. Moore agrees that Tolstoy’s work is distinguished by its scale, comparing him to Hugo and considering that both authors make a person stand in the face of history. However, Moore is not satisfied with the contrasting tones of white and black in Tolstoy’s palette, no semitones. He compares Tolstoy’s scenes from the life of secular society with those of minor Dutch artists. The article emphasizes Moore’s special admiration with Turgenev’s amazing skill, grace, and subtlety of execution. We note that English writers of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Moore, sent their books to Tolstoy, but he did not find philosophical depth in them, despite their artistic skill.

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