This volume investigates the role of evaluation as a fundamental component in the construction of discourse and the expression of authorial stance. The editors, Geoffrey Thompson and Susan Hunston, compile research from diverse linguistic traditions to argue that evaluation is not merely a peripheral feature of language but a central mechanism for how speakers and writers position themselves within a text. By synthesizing approaches from systemic functional linguistics, corpus-based studies, and narrative theory, the book establishes a comprehensive framework for identifying and analyzing evaluative language in various communicative contexts.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for researchers interested in the intersection of pragmatics and discourse analysis. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous reference for scholars examining the mechanics of authorial voice.