This work investigates the stylistic evolution and formal characteristics of English poetry throughout the eighteenth century. David Nichol Smith, a noted scholar of the period, utilizes a rigorous analytical framework to examine how poets of the era navigated the transition from neoclassical constraints to the burgeoning sensibilities of the pre-Romantic movement. By analyzing specific verse structures and thematic shifts, the author argues that the century represents a distinct period of refinement rather than mere imitation of classical models.

Scholars frequently cite this text as a foundational resource for understanding the technical nuances of eighteenth-century English literature. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which assumes a high level of familiarity with the period's primary source materials.