Who is the Most Famous Poet Ever?

[billy]

Tolstoy found the plots contrived, which is a perfectly valid point.
yes it is as it is also a valid point to say the plots are not contrived as many attest.

Tolstoy was reading the plays translated, so he could not form a full opinion on their literary merit, only how they stood up as plays.
if he could not form a full opinion on their literary merit, how could he hope to see how they stood up as plays?
Orwell’s “defence” similarly has a hint of hurt English language pride. actually Orwell's defence was that there was no defence, tolstoy was just being subjective and was controlled to say what he did because of his upbringing and ideals. Orwell also went on to say ones fame can't be measured by someone attacking or praising but by how well it or they stand the test of time. i'd say shakespeare stood it better than most.
That Shakespeare is read today is a bogus contention, because much of that reading is through a self perpetuating education system where Shakespeare is already held up as the nonpareil, no questions asked. as was more so in is own time, back then his plays were watched more than read; many were too illiterate to read. now shakespeare and others are universally discussed as to how good they are compared to other poets through the ages. for some silly reason most people put shakespeare as pretty good. more people have probably been to a shakespeare tragedy than would have ever read a book by tolstoy. what does that say about tolstoy in comparison? i'm also sure at school and college level tolstoy is mostly only read because it's on the curriculum. shakespear isn't and has never been the only classical writer taught, yet almost every countries population knows of him. moreso that tolstoy who some confuse with a song title. the big thing is this, to get our point/view across we don't need to try and belittle others. i have no formal education and yet here i am, conversing with someone who is arguably well enough educated to have an informed opininion of their own. for some reason i think i'm showing formal education only works if it works. your arguments are flawed and without proof when you say shakespeare is overrated. what you mean is "you think he's overrated" there are millions more who think you wrong you only have to look on bookshelves.