This volume investigates the state of contemporary Italian literature in the mid-1960s by curating a representative selection of works from prominent Italian authors. Editor Raleigh Trevelyan, alongside contributors like Umberto Eco, compiles this collection to bridge the gap between Italian intellectual culture and the English-speaking world. The book argues that a significant portion of influential Italian writing remains inaccessible to non-Italian readers, necessitating a translated anthology to provide a comprehensive overview of the period's literary landscape.

Experts and scholars frequently cite this anthology as a valuable historical document for understanding the mid-century Italian literary scene. Readers often note that the text serves as a useful introduction to authors who were otherwise overlooked by English-language publishers at the time of its release.