Goldwin Smith was a well-known British journalist, essayist, and historian of the 19th century. Originally from Geneva, Switzerland, he later relocated to the US and taught at Cornell University before going back to England. Smith had a strong interest in literature and was well-known for his keen intellect and insightful observations on politics and society.

Goldwin Smith firmly believed that when writers sit down to write stories or novels, they have a great deal of responsibility. He contends that in order to produce works that profoundly connect with readers, authors must explore the intricacies of human nature rather than merely conjuring up stories out of thin air.

Consider a painter who intends to create a portrait but fails to pay attention to the minute details of emotion, lighting, and facial expression. The end product would probably be an uninspired composition devoid of nuance and resonance. Smith also made the case that novelists need to immerse themselves in learning about human thought, emotion, and interpersonal interactions.

This concept aims to capture the essence of common human experiences, such as joy, sorrow, love, conflict, ambition, and despair, in addition to academic observation. By doing this, authors are able to produce characters that seem authentic, stories that are captivating, and messages that have an impact. Like a chef preparing a meal with fresh ingredients, an author can only create soul-nourishing stories if they have authentic insights into their readers.

The significance of authenticity in literature is emphasized by Goldwin Smith's viewpoint. He underlined that knowledge and comprehension of human behavior must temper imagination, even though it is essential for storytelling. This method guarantees that literary works enlighten, deeply engage, and entertain readers.