This collection of essays investigates the textual history of King Lear, specifically addressing the implications of the existence of two distinct early versions of the play. Editors Gary Taylor and Michael T. Warren assemble a group of scholars to analyze the divergence between the 1608 Quarto and the 1623 First Folio. The text argues that these variations are not merely errors but represent intentional revisions that alter the thematic and structural integrity of the work.

Experts recognize this volume as a foundational text for understanding the 'two-text' theory of King Lear. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the rigorous methodology applied to textual bibliography.