Steve Martin vs Leo Tolstoy

In the 1970s, Steve Martin was the biggest stand-up comedian in the world, performing in stadiums with an act that was entirely absurdist. He used props, banjo playing, and non-sequiturs to deconstruct the very idea of a 'comedian.' Martins work was a brilliant satire of show business, and his influence on the 'alternative' comedy scene is massive. He proved that you could be a massive superstar w...

Leo Tolstoy is the master of the realist novel, known for his epic scale and profound psychological insight. His works, most notably 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina,' are considered the pinnacle of 19th-century literature. Tolstoy possessed an uncanny ability to depict the inner lives of his characters while simultaneously capturing the sweeping historical forces that shape their destinies. His...