Originally published in 1934, this book contains the second volume of Atkins' 'sketch' of the development of ancient literary criticism. Atkins concludes his history with a look at the styles of literary criticism prevalent after the rise of the Roman Empire, and includes the responses of figures such as Cicero, Tacitus and Lucian to changes in the literature of their day.

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