Along the way, the boy's mind and body are transformed as he garners the lessons of his ancestors administered by luminaries, both legendary and historical, such as Achilles, Socrates, Julius Caesar, Dante, and many others. The West Is the Light is a celebration of European culture and civilization, in all of its manifestations, over many centuries. Join Clark on his travels as he learns lessons, both difficult and illuminating, at the feet of both the great and the anonymous.