This book investigates how specific foundational narratives persist through time by evolving into myths through constant cultural retelling. Peter Conrad, an established critic and novelist, utilizes a comparative analysis of literature, film, and music to demonstrate how these stories function as living entities. He argues that the act of retelling allows contemporary culture to engage with and reconstruct its historical identity through the lens of established archetypes.

Critics frequently note the breadth of Conrad's interdisciplinary approach, which connects classical literature to modern pop culture with ease. Scholars highlight this as a sophisticated examination of how cultural memory is maintained through the continuous adaptation of core narratives.