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Meaning
The speaker argues that a writer's quality should be judged by the work itself, not by the writer's gender. The example contrasts Tolstoy with Anna Karenina to say that a great novel remains great regardless of who wrote it. The quote also uses irony to make the point sound blunt and memorable.
When It Was Said
Not documented yet.
Who It Was Said To
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Historical Context
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Source
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Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
No source found on Wikiquote; the quote is listed as attributed.
Did You Know?
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About Phil Klay
American writer
Phil Klay is an American writer. He won the National Book Award for fiction in 2014 for his first book-length publication, the short story collection Redeployment. That same year, the National Book Foundation named him a 5 under 35 honoree. His 2020 novel, Missionaries, was included among Barack Obama’s favorite books of the year and was also named one of The Wall Street Journal’s Ten Best Books of the Year.
More from Phil Klay (101 quotes) →Keep reading Phil Klay
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