This volume investigates the evolution of English literary expression during the sixteenth century by examining the transition from late medieval traditions to the burgeoning Renaissance. C. S. Lewis, a renowned scholar and literary historian, utilizes his extensive knowledge of the period to analyze the stylistic and thematic shifts in prose and poetry. He constructs a framework that evaluates the intellectual climate of the era while intentionally omitting dramatic works to focus on non-theatrical forms. The text serves as a scholarly survey of the period's literary output, providing critical assessments of both major and minor writers.

Scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the literary landscape of the sixteenth century. Readers often note the academic density of the prose and the author's distinct critical voice, which remains influential in the study of English literary history.