This book provides a historical overview of modern Greek literature from the Byzantine period to the present day, with an introduction to the Greek language.

The first part presents literary creation from the early beginnings until the 18th century: literature before the Fall of Constantinople (11th-15th century) and after the Fall (15th-17th century), particularly in Crete and Cyprus, as well as the work of the scholars of the Diaspora. Special chapters are dedicated to the literary flourishing in Crete during the 17th century and to the popular song.

The second part analyzes literature in the decades leading up to the 1821 Revolution. A chapter is dedicated to Solomos and another to Kalvos and the Ionian School. Then follow the Romantics of the Athenian School, the generation of 1880, with the central figure being Palamas, prose literature after 1880 (Vizyenos, Papadiamantis, etc.), the language issue and Psycharis, poetry around and after Palamas, and figures like Kavafis, Sikeliannis, Kazantzakis, and the generation of '30.

The final chapter develops post-war poetry and prose.

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]