Edmund Wilson investigates the origins and development of the Symbolist movement to determine how its aesthetic principles fundamentally reshaped the trajectory of twentieth-century literature. 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 manifestation in the works of six pivotal modern authors. He argues that the movement represents a critical shift in how writers engage with reality, subjectivity, and the function of language itself.

This work is regarded as a foundational text in modern literary criticism, noted for its clarity and its ability to synthesize complex aesthetic movements into accessible prose. The analysis provides a rigorous framework for understanding the transition from traditional narrative forms to the experimental styles that defined the early twentieth century.