Edmund Wilson investigates the origins and development of the Symbolist movement, questioning how the imaginative literature of 1870-1930 fundamentally altered the trajectory of modern writing. Wilson, a preeminent American critic, utilizes his deep knowledge of European intellectual history to trace the lineage of Symbolism from its French roots to its broader influence on English-language writers. He argues that this movement represents a distinct shift toward subjective, highly aestheticized modes of expression that define the modern literary consciousness.

This work is widely regarded as a foundational text in 20th-century literary criticism, noted for its clarity and its role in introducing Symbolist thought to a broader English-speaking audience. The analysis remains a standard reference for students of Modernism due to Wilson's ability to synthesize complex aesthetic theories into accessible prose.