This work investigates the systematic textual alterations and external interventions applied to William Shakespeare's plays between 1606 and 1623. Gary Taylor and John Jowett, both established scholars in the field of textual bibliography and Shakespearean studies, utilize a rigorous analytical framework to examine how theatrical practices and political pressures influenced the canon. By focusing on the period leading up to the First Folio, the authors argue that many perceived authorial choices were actually the result of posthumous or late-career editorial interference.

Scholars and students of early modern drama frequently cite this text as a foundational resource for understanding the complexities of textual transmission and editorial history. Experts highlight the authors' meticulous methodology in identifying non-Shakespearean interpolations within the canon.