This work investigates the origins of the Greek love novel by proposing that Chariton of Aphrodisias acted as the singular inventor of the genre. Stefan Tilg, a scholar of classical literature, utilizes a dual-methodology approach to support this claim. By synthesizing evidence from literary history and a detailed analysis of Chariton's specific poetics, Tilg argues that the mid-first century AD text, Narratives about Callirhoe, serves as the foundational prototype for the European love novel tradition.

Scholars in the field of classical studies recognize this text as a significant contribution to the ongoing debate regarding the genesis of the ancient novel. Experts frequently highlight Tilg's methodology as a rigorous framework for re-evaluating the timeline of Greek literary history.