This synthesis provides an overview of current knowledge of the spiders in Europe; its main purpose is to supply a means to identify all the known species. Based essentially on the analysis of the literature, The Spiders of Europe, a Synthesis of Data, Volume 1 summarises the relevant information that is scattered across many books and papers.

Each species is described with all pertinent data on taxonomy, habitat, biology, and distribution. In most cases the text is accompanied by figures that emphasise the critical features for identification of species; these figures are redrawn and adapted from published illustrations, or sometimes made from specimens in collection. A map is provided for each species, showing its distribution in Europe.

The synthesis will comprise four volumes. This first volume contains an introduction to morphology of spiders, a glossary, a diagnosis of spider families, and treats the families from Atypidae to Theridiidae; about 750 species are described, with more than 2100 drawings.