French, and later the whole Western world, became acquainted with
Russian literature; for a long time he was the only Russian novelist
well known outside of his country. It was also owing largely to his
personal efforts that Tolstoi's work first became known in France. He
distributed copies to the leading writers and men of influence, and
asked them to arouse the public. Turgenev had a veritable genius for
admiration; he had recognised the greatness of his younger rival
immediately, and without a twinge of jealousy. When he read
"Sevastopol," he shouted "Hurrah!" and drank the author's health.
Their subsequent friendship was broken by a bitter and melancholy
quarrel which lasted sixteen years. Then after Tolstoi had embraced
Christianity, he considered it his duty to write to Turgenev, and
suggest a renewal of their acquaintance. This was in 1878. Turgenev
replied immediately, saying that all hostile feelings on his part had
long since disappeared; that he remembered only his old friend, and
the great writer whom he had had the good fortune to salute before
others had discovered him. In the summer of that year they had a
friendly meeting in Russia, but Turgenev could not appreciate the
importance of Tolstoi's new religious views; and that very autumn
Tolstoi wrote to Fet, "He is a very disagreeable man." At the same
time Turgenev also wrote to Fet, expressing his great pleasure in the
renewal of the old friendship, and saying that Tolstoi's "name is
beginning to have a European reputation, and we others, we Russians,
have known for a long time that he has no rival among us." In 1880,
Turgenev returned to Russia to participate in the Pushkin celebration,
and was disappointed at Tolstoi's refusal to take part. The truth is,
that Tolstoi always hated Turgenev during the latter's lifetime, while
Turgenev always admired Tolstoi. On his death-bed, he wrote to him one
of the most unselfish and beautiful letters that one great man ever
sent to another.