By the time Ezra Pound introduced his ABC of Reading, the poetic landscape had evolved significantly. The dominance of Victorian poetry had waned in the face of modernist innovations, with the Imagist movement at the forefront. Central to this movement was T. E. Hulme, a pioneering theorist whose ideas resonated with Pound. In 1909, Pound became intertwined with Hulme's Poets' Club and began exploring Imagism. However, by 1914, Pound was ready to move beyond Imagism’s static nature, developing his concept of vorticism—a dynamic approach emphasizing action and movement. This transition was further shaped by Ernest Fenollosa’s influential work, The Chinese Written Character as a Medium for Poetry, which introduced Pound to the ideogrammic method, profoundly impacting his poetic style.

Beyond literary experimentation, Pound lived through World War I with a steadfast belief that war was the byproduct of declining humanistic values. Cleanth Brooks aptly noted, "for him, authentic art has a direct relation to human society: it is the symptom of a healthy society." Whether through poetry or critical essays, Pound remained committed to "putting things right," despite the chasm between his own vast knowledge and the understanding of his readers, who might not have shared his experiences or linguistic prowess.

When ABC of Reading was published, it catered to an audience already acquainted with Pound’s substantial body of work. By this time, his reputation as a poet, critic, and translator was well-established. The book aimed to clarify the methodology outlined in his earlier work, How to Read, and served as a precursor to his 1938 publication, Guide to Kulchur. Chronologically situated in the middle of his career, ABC of Reading actually represented a point where the volume of his work had surpassed the mid-career mark.

Despite its merits, ABC of Reading received a mixed reception, a fate not uncommon among Pound’s works. While it may not have fully accomplished Pound’s ambitious goals, its insightful observations suggest it deserves more recognition than it often receives. Pound’s efforts to articulate a vision of poetry that intertwined with societal health and progress marked a significant chapter in literary criticism, deserving ongoing consideration and reflection.