As the author states, "We have traveled a long road, following the river of Greco-Roman influences in literature. From its first encounter with the life of modern Europe, to the forests and deserts of the Dark Ages, [...] and from there we saw it flow into the Baroque era, within a carefully defined channel, dressed with marble and statues on the banks; and then swell again into the era of revolution, [...] finally, through new canals, we saw it flow, beautiful and powerful, into the literature of the 19th century, and from there to the 20th, arriving at our present time, where psychologists and playwright authors gaze in admiration and awe at the eternal current sweeping away immortal figures, the villain and the hero, the nymph and the god."

It is the best description of the book, written in the distinctive style of the author, which characterizes the entire book. A significant and difficult work, but above all invaluable for anyone today who wishes to wander along the banks of the age-old river, which has its sources in the classical era of Athens and Rome and flows through our century.

A multitude of elements, many hard to find, biographical and bibliographical, many original interpretations, countless quotations and comparisons help the reader to trace the small steps or the great leaps taken by the literary expressions of the human spirit, as the vivid pen of G. Highet records, classifies, and interprets.