This collection investigates the complete dramatic and non-dramatic output of Restoration playwright Thomas Southerne to establish a definitive scholarly record of his work. The editors utilize an exhaustive study of the earliest extant editions to provide a comprehensive textual foundation for Southerne's ten plays. By integrating the first biography based on primary documentary evidence with detailed annotations, the volume serves as a critical resource for understanding the playwright's sources, models, and contemporary cultural context.

Scholars and students of Restoration drama frequently identify this collection as the definitive scholarly edition for its rigorous textual accuracy and historical depth. Experts highlight the inclusion of the first comprehensive biography as a significant contribution to the field of seventeenth-century literary studies.