This collection investigates the personal and professional life of composer Edward Elgar through his own correspondence to provide a comprehensive portrait of his creative development and social context. Jerrold Northrop Moore, a prominent Elgar scholar, curates this selection from an archive of over ten thousand letters. By organizing these primary sources, the book constructs a chronological narrative that captures the composer's interactions with family, peers, and the prominent cultural figures of his era.

Scholars and music historians frequently cite this collection as a foundational resource for understanding Elgar's private motivations and professional challenges. Readers often note the academic rigor of the editorial commentary, which provides necessary context for the primary source material.