This two-volume set investigates the evolution of English usage standards and the life of the lexicographer who defined them. The collection pairs R.W. Burchfield’s revision of the classic reference work, The New Fowler's Modern English Usage, with Jenny McMorris’s biographical study, The Warden of English. Together, these volumes provide both the practical application of Fowler’s linguistic philosophy and the historical context of his career in lexicography.

Experts and linguists regard this set as a foundational resource for understanding the history and application of English usage rules. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a definitive reference for those interested in the structural nuances of the language.