This collection investigates the core aesthetic and ideological shifts that defined the Modernist movement through its primary manifestos and critical interpretations. Kevin Dettmar, a scholar of twentieth-century literature, curates a selection of foundational texts to examine how Modernist writers challenged traditional forms and social structures. The book provides a framework for understanding the transition from Victorian sensibilities to the fragmented, experimental nature of early twentieth-century art and thought.

The subject matter points to a dense, academic text intended for students and scholars of literary history. The framing suggests a rigorous, pedagogical approach to understanding the complexities of the Modernist canon.