This collection investigates the evolution of Shakespearean criticism during the eighteenth century, tracing how early scholars and writers began to formalize the study of his works. D. Nichol Smith, a noted scholar of the period, compiles and introduces a series of critical essays that document the shift from neoclassical interpretations toward a more nuanced appreciation of Shakespeare's dramatic structure and characterization. The volume provides a historical framework for understanding how the eighteenth-century literary establishment grappled with the perceived irregularities of Shakespeare's plays.

Scholars and students of literary history frequently identify this collection as a foundational resource for understanding the development of Shakespearean scholarship. Experts note that the text provides essential access to rare critical documents that shaped the modern academic approach to the playwright's canon.