The work of the Hellenistic poets in the third century BC has not only an important place in Greek literature, but also a particular significance for Latin poetry. Despite much technical work on the texts and language of these authors - Theocritus, Callimachus, Apollonius Rhodius, and others - previous literary criticism on most of the major figures is limited in quantity and scope.

In this new paperback edition, Dr Hutchinson explores the work of the individual writers in turn, while developing a general conception of the poetry as a whole, centred around the poets' handling of tone, level, and form. The book culminates in the presentation of a fresh approach to the influence of Hellenistic poets in Rome. All quotations in Greek or Latin have been translated by the author.