This work investigates the cultural and psychological motivations that drove a generation of American writers to expatriate to Europe during the 1920s. Malcolm Cowley, a central participant in the literary movements of the era, utilizes his own experiences and observations of his contemporaries to construct a collective portrait of the so-called Lost Generation. He argues that their departure was not merely a pursuit of artistic freedom, but a reaction against the industrialization and moral disillusionment of post-World War I America.

Critics and scholars frequently cite this book as a foundational primary source for understanding the social dynamics of the 1920s literary scene. Readers often note the prose is both personal and analytical, providing a unique bridge between historical record and memoir.