This study investigates the professional trajectory and theatrical contributions of Henry Fielding during his decade as a prominent dramatist and manager in London. Robert D. Hume, a scholar of eighteenth-century literature and drama, utilizes archival records and historical context to re-evaluate Fielding's influence on the English stage. The book argues that Fielding's work during this period was not merely a precursor to his later novels, but a significant body of creative and managerial output that shaped the theatrical landscape of the 1730s.

Scholars recognize this work as a definitive account of Fielding's career in the theater, often citing it for its meticulous archival research. It is considered a foundational text for those studying the intersection of eighteenth-century drama and the professional life of authors.