This seems to be only a part of the reason. Tolstoy was born into wealth, and it might be that his simultaneous exposure to the highlight of European culture, c

This seems to be only a part of the reason. Tolstoy was born into wealth, and it might be that his simultaneous exposure to the highlight of European culture, combined with the harsh reality of the lives of his serfs produced his insights into human nature. Many cultures have had genocides and countless atrocities without producing anything of similar value.