This collection investigates the evolution and thematic preoccupations of New England poets during the century spanning 1790 to 1890. George F. Whicher, a noted scholar of American literature, provides an introductory framework that situates these poets within the broader cultural and intellectual shifts of the American Renaissance. The volume argues that the regional identity of New England served as a primary catalyst for the development of a distinct national poetic voice.

Scholars and literary historians recognize this anthology as a useful reference for understanding the regional foundations of American verse. Readers frequently note that the introductory material provides necessary context for interpreting the stylistic conventions of the era.