In the first part of the book, Holroyd discusses different types of spirituality, while in the second part—roughly two thirds of the book—these distinctions are used to analyse the works of six different poets, each of whom reacted to the issues of modernity with his own spiritual vision.

The book was Holroyd's debut and is associated with the phenomenon of the Angry Young Men.

[1] Burns Singer wrote in Encounter: "Repeatedly, whenever I have met him, Mr Stuart Holroyd has struck me as an unusually intelligent, modest, and cultivated young man.

Singer continued: "Mr Holroyd's mind is quite obviously of the kind that can absorb a good deal of experience, that needs years to mature.

"[2] William Bittner of the Saturday Review wrote that "Holroyd's discussions of individual poets are fascinating but uneven".