This book investigates the evolution of Stéphane Mallarmé’s poetic technique, tracing his progression from traditional verse to the radical experimentation of his later work. Roger Pearson, a scholar of French literature, utilizes close textual analysis to argue that Mallarmé’s seemingly chaotic final works are actually governed by a rigorous, underlying mathematical and linguistic logic. By examining the poet's entire career, the author demonstrates how Mallarmé systematically dismantled and reconstructed the possibilities of the French language.

Scholars and students of French symbolism frequently cite this work as a primary resource for understanding the technical complexities of Mallarmé’s verse. The text is noted for its ability to balance rigorous academic analysis with clear explanations of the poet's evolving stylistic framework.