This volume investigates how the reception of Homeric epic in the twentieth century shaped the construction of the Western canon and the evolving concept of world literature. Barbara Graziosi and Emily Greenwood, both distinguished scholars in classical reception, examine how twentieth-century writers, translators, and critics engaged with the Iliad and the Odyssey. They argue that Homer served as a critical site for negotiating cultural identity, political ideology, and the boundaries of literary tradition during a period of global upheaval. The authors utilize a wide range of primary sources, including modern poetry, novels, and academic discourse, to demonstrate the persistent relevance of Homeric themes in contemporary thought.

Scholars in the field of classical reception identify this work as a significant contribution to understanding the modern afterlife of ancient epic. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which assumes a foundational knowledge of both Homeric studies and twentieth-century literary history.