Honesty with Oneself: A Collection of Novels and Short Stories

The story revolves around Myron, an intellectual who advocates for the idea of "honesty with oneself" among the youth. He believes that every person has the right to self-expression and freedom of choice. However, confronted with a harsh reality, Myron begins to doubt his ideals. Prostitution plays a significant role in the novel. Myron, advocating for social equality, does not condemn women who engage in the world's oldest profession, but sees it as a consequence of social injustice. His sister, Marusya, is forced into prostitution due to difficult life circumstances, which becomes a serious ordeal for the protagonist. Myron's views are condemned by his surroundings, and he is despised, with the office manager even threatening to fire him for his "harmful influence" on workers and employees. "Honesty with oneself" is the central theme of the work. Vynnychenko urges each person to be sincere and not afraid to admit their mistakes. The writer sharply criticizes social inequality, which gives rise to poverty, lawlessness, and moral degradation. The author explores the conflict between a person's individual aspirations and the demands of society. The book calls for self-knowledge, honesty with oneself, and the struggle for a just society.
The book also includes the novella «Moment» and the short story «On the Other Side».