This collection investigates how dreams functioned as significant cultural and literary markers in pre-Freudian society through the lens of medieval and Renaissance texts. Peter M. Brown compiles a series of essays from leading scholars to examine the evolution of dream interpretation from the works of Chaucer through the plays of Shakespeare. The text argues that these historical representations provide a unique window into the psychological and spiritual frameworks of the era, moving beyond modern psychoanalytic interpretations to understand the period's own internal logic.

Experts recognize this volume as a valuable resource for scholars interested in the intersection of literary history and the history of consciousness. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the specialized nature of the essays, which are best suited for those with a background in early English literature.