The more I come to understand what makes stories great, the more I realise that the single greatest ingredient is truth. In our age of endless entertainment options and fleeting viral content, we might wonder why certain narratives continue to captivate readers across generations while others fade into obscurity. The answer lies not in clever plot devices or shocking twists, but in how closely these enduring works mirror the fundamental realities of human existence.
There are certain works throughout history that are so compelling and so gripping that their message remains relevant no matter the time in which it is read. These stories transcend their historical context because they tap into something deeper than contemporary concerns—they reveal truths about the human condition that remain constant across centuries. The reason for this ability to stand the test of time is that these stories are almost indistinguishable from truth itself.
“Truth is so rare that it is delightful to tell it.” – Emily Dickinson
The main work that comes to mind is Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, in which the main character Raskolnikov is forced to grapple with the concept of morality itself. However, the entire book serves as Dostoevsky’s critique of Nietzsche’s ideas on morality. Nietzsche’s Übermensch is an ideal human being who transcends conventional morality and societal limitations. It represents a state of self-overcoming, characterised by creativity, strength, and a willingness to forge one’s own values. The Übermensch is not a specific individual but rather a goal for humanity to strive toward—a new type of human being that emerges from the ashes of nihilism.
Raskolnikov is, for all intents and purposes, the living embodiment of Nietzsche’s Übermensch. He believes that exceptional people can live above the laws of human morality if they so choose, without the threat of moral retribution and decay. In his mind, he belongs to an elevated class of humanity that can transgress ordinary moral boundaries for the greater good—or simply because they possess the will to do so.
“The truth will set you free, but first, it will make you miserable.” – James Garfield
Dostoevsky perfectly picks this argument apart throughout the course of the novel, taking Nietzsche’s lofty philosophising and placing it in the real world where these theories quickly fall apart. What sounds intellectually compelling in abstract philosophical discourse becomes a nightmare when lived out in practice. Raskolnikov’s attempt to embody the Übermensch leads not to liberation but to psychological torment, isolation, and ultimately, the desperate need for redemption through suffering and love.
This is where we begin to understand how truth functions in great storytelling. Dostoevsky’s critique of Nietzsche’s Übermensch through the art of storytelling exposes the theory’s shortcomings simply by telling the truth about what happens when such ideas encounter human reality. The novel doesn’t refute Nietzsche through logical argumentation—it does something far more powerful by showing us the lived consequences of these beliefs.
“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” – Oscar Wilde
But how do we recognise truth when we encounter it in literature? Philosophical theories on truth often explore the relationship between statements and reality. The correspondence theory of truth, a prominent view, suggests that a statement is true if it accurately reflects or corresponds to the way the world is. Other approaches include the pragmatic theory, which defines truth as what is useful and works in practice, and social constructionism, which emphasises the social and cultural contexts that shape our understanding of truth.
Yet truth in great literature operates on a different level entirely. It’s not merely about factual accuracy or practical utility, but about capturing something essential about human nature and experience. Truth, in this deeper sense, is not merely in utterance, nor is it only response to a specific command or word, but lies in the response of the will and life to the essential obligations of one’s being.
Crime and Punishment is so close to truth that it not only reflects reality but becomes reality itself. The story of Raskolnikov is not just some fictional tale but an insightful look into the human condition, so closely mirroring truth that it is reality itself as we, as people, act out parts of the story throughout our everyday lives. We too grapple with morality and the ideas confronted in the book constantly. We face moments where we convince ourselves that circumstances justify actions we know are wrong, where we rationalise selfishness as righteousness, where we discover that isolation from moral community leads to psychological destruction.
This is why certain stories feel so immediate and personal, regardless of when they were written. They capture patterns of human behaviour and consequence that remain constant across time and culture. A reader in 2025 can recognise themselves in Raskolnikov’s internal struggles just as clearly as readers did when the novel was first published in 1866. The external circumstances may change—technology advances, social structures evolve, political systems shift—but the fundamental dynamics of conscience, pride, guilt, and redemption remain unchanged.
“Truth is often eclipsed but never extinguished” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The challenge for contemporary writers is learning to recognise and capture these enduring truths rather than being distracted by surface-level novelty or temporary concerns. This doesn’t mean avoiding contemporary issues or modern settings, but rather understanding that lasting impact comes from connecting present circumstances to timeless human realities.
Great storytelling requires the courage to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature—our capacity for self-deception, our tendency toward moral compromise, our desperate need for connection and meaning. It requires resisting the temptation to offer easy answers or comfortable lies, instead presenting the complex, often painful reality of what it means to be human.
When writers commit to this level of truthfulness, their work gains the power to endure. Like Dostoevsky’s masterpiece, these stories become more than entertainment—they become mirrors in which each generation can recognise itself, finding both warning and hope in the honest portrayal of human experience. In an age of increasing fragmentation and confusion, such truthful storytelling becomes not just artistically valuable but morally essential, offering readers the rare gift of recognition and understanding in a world that often feels alien and disconnected.
The truth may be rare, as Dickinson observed, but when we encounter it in great literature, we recognise it immediately—not because it tells us what we want to hear, but because it tells us what we need to know.
Happy Birthday
Today we’re celebrating our wonderful team member Megan on her special day. We hope your birthday is filled with joy, laughter, and all your favourite things. Happy birthday, Megan – thank you for being such a valued part of our team!
What am I reading?
Curious to see what I’m reading this week? That’s easy, I’ve attached a copy of the book’s details down below. If you’re looking at getting into reading yourself, that might not be as easy. If you want a hand, you can download our free Think Big Reading List right here
The Fall
Albert Camus
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~ Nick
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