<p>1) “Too great a distance” is not redundant. It is a bit awkward, but not incorrect. Something such as “too far away a distance” would be redundant - you can remove “a distance” and it would still make sense - “It is ordinary lightning that occurs too far away for its accompanying thunder to be audible.”</p>
<p>2) “Just beside” is not redundant. It is correctly specifying the location of the decrepit house. “Just” means “right next to” or “immediately” next to. “Just” is giving additional detail, and to remove it would compromise the meaning of the sentence. </p>
<p>3) “Long since forgotten” refers only to the artisans. I know it does, but I can’t remember the reason why. I’ll get back to you though :). For now, I think it has something to do with its proximity - “long since forgotten” is much closer to “artisans.” </p>
<p>4) The sentence, as written, is comparing a dramatic story to “baseball’s great hitter and right fielder, Hank Aaron.” One cannot compare a story to a person. If you trim the sentence down to its basics, it reads:</p>
<p>There is probably no story more dramatic than Hank Aaron. (WRONG)</p>
<p>The sentence should read:</p>
<p>There is probably no story more dramatic than that of baseball’s great hitter and right fielder, Hank Aaron.</p>
<p>What of Hank Aaron? His dramatic story. </p>
<p>Did that help :)?</p>