A reissue in paperback of a title first published in 1949.

"Highet has assembled a vast quantity of material concerning the manifold aspects of his subject, filled in gaps where no adequate work has been done, and presented a story characterized by lucidity, charm, and scholarly good sense."--Classical Philology "Solidly grounded and solidly built...[Highet] deals with every period, every movement, every individual, and every separate work as an interesting special case for which he tries to find the special explanation."--The New Yorker "Highet has assembled a vast quantity of material concerning the manifold aspects of his subject, filled in gaps where no adequate work has been done, and presented a story characterized by lucidity, charm, and scholarly good sense."--Classical Philology "A magnificent reference book....A noble effort toward the accomplishment of a staggering task."--Western Humanities Review "It is Highet's appreciation of good literature...which gives a special charm to his book...[It] will be read with gratitude by many."--Times Literary Supplement (London) "Solidly grounded and solidly built...[Highet] deals with every period, every movement, every individual, and every separate work as an interesting special case for which he tries to find the special explanation."--The New Yorker "An excellent outline...[an] intelligent, erudite, perceptive interpretation...a book for the times."--The Nation "A prodigious task, demanding learning, judgment, insight, and above all courage. Mr. Highet is to be congratulated on possessing all these....[He] founds his work on a sound knowledge of a vast array of facts and arranges them with great clarity....We may be thankful that Mr. Highet has attempted this task and succeeded, as very few could have, in it."--The Sewanee Review