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

1. Introduction; 2. The beginnings: Aristophanes; 3. The attack on poetry: Plato; 4. The development of poetic theory: Aristotle; 5. The development of rhetorical theory: Isocrates, Aristotle, and Theophrastus; 6. The new poetics: Neoptolemus of Parium, Callimachus, and Aristarchus; Index.