A clear, concise, and masterly exposition of the structuralist approach to literature, it is one of the key documents of French structuralism. All of Todorov’s qualities are evident in it: the ability to present complex critical notions simply but without simplification and to use precise terminology without falling into jargon; a willingness to tackle controversial issues without invoking dogma; and a great modesty which, in a programmatic book, allows him to be expository without being preachy.