Originally published in 1934, this book contains the second volume of Atkins' 'sketch' of the development of ancient literary criticism.

J. W. H. Atkins was a Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge and Emeritus Professor of English Language and Literature, University of Aberystwyth

1. The Critical Beginnings at Rome and the Classical Reaction: Terence, Lucilius and Cicero 2. Classicism Established in Poetic Theory: Phiodemus and Horace 3. Classicism and Prose Style: Dionysius of Halicarnassus 4. The Literary Decline and Contemporary Comments: Tractatus Coslinianus, the two Senecas, Persius and Petronius 5. The Critical Revival and Theories of Style: Tacitus and Demetrius 6. The New Critical Outlook and Methods: Longinus 7. The Restatement of Classicism: Quintilian 8. Critical Cross-Currents: martial, the younger Pliny, Plutarch, Dio Chrysostom and Lucian 9. Conclusion