It was the Greek philosopher Plato who said that music gave “soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life”. According to the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, it was the “shorthand of emotion”. (From “Objective IELTS Advanced” M. Black, p. 40).
Why is the definite article used before “Russian writer Leo Tolstoy” instead of the indefinite (after all, there are many Russian writers)?