In this 1975 volume, Christopher Gillie follows the method of selecting writers that are most significant for this study. He tries to show the main movements in English literature between 1900 and 1940, and selects for discussion those writers who have an abiding relevance, even those without a large readership. As a guide to himself as well as the reader, he includes in the account enough historical and social narrative as may help explain such relevance, and why he has made particular selections. Gillie reinforces his critical comments with quotations from the selected writers, and provides an extensive bibliography for further study.