This volume investigates the cultural and political discourse of early 18th-century England through the critical examination of the periodical The Tatler. Richard C. Steele provides a rigorous scholarly framework, utilizing the original periodical texts alongside extensive historical context. The work argues that these essays served as a primary vehicle for shaping public opinion and social norms during the Enlightenment period in London.

Experts identify this edition as a foundational resource for researchers focusing on the development of the English periodical press. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the precision of the editorial apparatus provided by Steele.