This collection investigates the human side of American literary history by curating anecdotes that reveal the personalities behind the canon. Donald Hall, a distinguished poet and critic, compiles these accounts from a vast array of primary sources including private letters, memoirs, and recorded conversations. The book argues that the history of literature is best understood through the informal, often irreverent interactions and eccentricities of its practitioners rather than through formal analysis alone.

Critics and scholars frequently cite this work as a valuable, accessible resource for understanding the cultural context of American letters. Readers note that the prose remains light and engaging, making it a useful reference for those interested in the human elements of literary history.