This collection investigates the professional and personal life of Samuel Wesley, a prominent English composer and organist, through the lens of his own correspondence. The volume compiles over 400 letters written between 1797 and 1837, providing a primary source record of the musical landscape in London during the early nineteenth century. By documenting his interactions with contemporaries and his candid reflections on his own life, the book establishes a comprehensive portrait of a complex figure who existed both within and outside the established social norms of his time.

Scholars and music historians view this collection as a vital resource for understanding the social history of English music during the Romantic era. The text is frequently cited for its candid portrayal of the period's professional challenges and the idiosyncratic personality of one of its most gifted organists.