The book series can be seen as a thorough overview of developments of
Estonian society from about 1870 to about 1930; it presents an epic panorama of both the rural and urban societies of that era. Tammsaare's primary conception was that under the then applicable conditions, reaching a harmony of both truth and justice is impossible, and thus, while many characters will seek it, none will reach this destination. According to Tammsaare, the first volume of
Truth and Justice depicts man’s struggle with the earth, the second with
God, the third with society, the fourth with himself, and the fifth ends with resignation. Tammsaare’s view was skeptical, in general he saw things as a natural scientist would, his approach being biological rather than psychological. Although the work was deeply rooted in Estonian life, it dealt with many contemporary literary and philosophical issues. With
Truth and Justice Tammsaare gained a reputation as one of the most original thinkers and novelists in Northern Europe. The last two volumes especially contained more reasoning on the struggle for truth and justice than
autobiographical material. In
Truth and Justice Tammsaare draws an ironic portrait of urban intellectuals who have absorbed the middle and upper classes mores and abandoned their moral principles. The novel was written in a time which saw the rise of dictators –
Adolf Hitler,
Joseph Stalin,
Benito Mussolini – and the decline of truth and justice. Indrek, the protagonist, is not a man of action, but through his life story Tammsaare examines the same
humanistic ideals of the early 20th century as
Romain Rolland,
Thomas Mann and
John Galsworthy do in their works. In the first part Indrek is actually a minor character, while the protagonist is his father, Andres Paas with his first wife Krõõt, who dies after giving birth to their first son. Andres, who wants to defend what he considers right, eventually loses his vision of right and wrong, and manages to cheat his archenemy, Pearu. In the second part Indrek enters a private school in a town, actually
Tartu, although Tammsaare does not mention its name. Indrek falls in love with Ramilda, the daughter of the school director. She dies of
tuberculosis and Indrek renounces God, publishing an article in the school paper which gets him expelled from school. In the third part Indrek participates in the revolutionary events of 1905 but is terrified by its frenzy. The fourth part is set in independent Estonia. Indrek has married Karin; they have two children. After having found out that Karin has been unfaithful, he nearly kills her. Indrek is released on probation. Karin dies in a traffic accident. In the fifth part Indrek returns to his native village.
Part Two The action, based largely on the author’s own memories, takes place in the private grammar school of Mr. Maurus in the early years of the 20th century. The main hero, Indrek, son of Andres, is a young man from the country who comes to town to study. In Maurus’ school he meets a colorful variety of teachers and students of different nations and becomes familiar with new ideas and ways. He is much influenced by the radical opinions of some of the teachers, as well as by the manipulations of Maurus, whom he later blames for having taught him how to tell lies. The second part of “Truth and Justice” has often been named "man’s battle with God". Indrek, having come from a strong religious background of rural regions of the time, starts questioning the existence of God. He falls deeply in love with Maurus’ only daughter Ramilda, and when she dies of
tuberculosis, Indrek renounces God, publishing an article in the school paper, which gets him expelled.
Part Three Part Three deals with 1905–1907 revolution. It conveys the moods of masses and episodes of fighting. At the decisive moment of the revolution, the main character Indrek remains a bystander.
Part Five In Part Five, events take place in the countryside once more. Here the life is being observed roughly half a century after the events in Part One. In a simple lifestyle and hard work, the protagonist can finally rediscover his inner balance. So far, only Parts One and Two have appeared in English. The translation of Part Three is in progress. ==Notable characters==