In the early 1890s, twelve poets and their guests met regularly at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, a tavern off Fleet Street, as well as other rendezvous in order to discuss their work, offer mutual support, and share their poetry aloud. W. B. Yeats, Arthur Symons, Ernest Dowson, Lionel Johnson, and John Davidson comprised the core of this elite group that called themselves The Rhymers' Club.

At a time when the voice of society manifested itself in the popular press, these poets often found themselves at odds with their audience as they attempted to generate art that could accurately reflect the mood of the populace. In light of these conflicting issues, Yeats retrospectively referred to his contemporaries as "the tragic generation.".

Norman Alford's concise, clear, and fully documented account of these poets' lives together and apart offers an entrance into the essence of the late nineteenth century - from a poet's-eye-view.