"Cosmic realism": The secret ingredient to great books
Briefly

The article discusses the concept of 'cosmic realism' as articulated by author Paul Lynch, highlighting how the best writing distills profound truths from small details of everyday life. Lynch references Richard Price's advice to focus on minor aspects to capture the resonance of larger issues. He cites classic authors such as Melville and Dostoevsky as exemplars of this technique, emphasizing their ability to imbue small, mundane experiences with enormous significance, transforming singular moments into meaningful universal statements.
Humans can be mean, and the world is full of tragedy... But the best writing conveys huge insights found in tiny, everyday moments.
Richard Price reminds that when dealing with big issues, focusing on small, tangible details like a kid's burnt socks creates profound resonance.
Paul Lynch defines 'cosmic realism' as expressing universal truths from personal dramas, using metaphor to demonstrate something greater within narratives.
The masters of cosmic realism, including Melville and Dostoevsky, excel in making small things seem incomprehensibly large, with profound imagery.
Read at Big Think
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