Originally published in 1965, all the essays were specially commissioned. In the author's view, Lucretius was the poet who would appeal most strongly to the twentieth century but was one who was often overlooked. The essays cover a wide range of topics: one, by a zoologist provides a re-assessment of the atomic theory in the light of modern science; another describes the pervasive influence of Lucretius on the scientific poem in English literature. The classical contributors are all concerned with the personality of the poet and the individuality of the De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things), Lucretius' work which explains Epicurean philosophy, as a work of art.

Donald R. Dudley (1910-1972) was Professor of Latin at the University of Birmingham.