"Leo Who?"

I was aghast a couple years ago to discover that the latest generation of Americans don't know who Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was.

Reading the author's biographical blurb on a brilliant collection of essays he wrote entitled What Is Art?, I came across a fact hitherto unknown to me.  Turning to the kid behind the counter at my favorite diner in wonder (and perhaps a little admiration) . .

"Did you know Leo Tolstoy had thirteen children?" I asked. "Leo who?" he replied.

This scared me so much that I started quizzing the staff about simple things I thought they should know.  Like when major wars were fought, who was president at the time.  The inaccuracy of their responses was troubling.

I then brought in questions used for the U.S. citizenship test on the theory that if they want to be legitimate U.S. citizens they ought to be able to answer them.  They struggled with those too.

Tolstoy overlooked in today's United States . . why?  He's more than just the author of what many consider to be the greatest novel every written:  War and Peace.  Some argue that his Anna Karenina deserves that title.  He's an institution.  Philosopher, religious thinker, friend to the peasantry, etc.

Could it be that his works are just to long and hard for young students to grasp?  I remember my brother reading it in high school, so I don't see the problem there.

Is he viewed as politically incorrect because he held serfs?