This book by George Varthalitis places Cavafy in the context of his time and explores his existing or "selective" connections with contemporary writers such as Anatole France, Pater, or Andreyev, aiming to outline the poetic and spiritual methodology of the Alexandrian.

Varthalitis's effort focuses on highlighting Cavafy's individuality, particularly regarding the issue of poetic representation and the recreation of historical past. Moving beyond the limits of a simple comparative study, the texts that compose it, seen together, attempt to formulate a unified interpretative proposal.