This collection investigates the evolution of the essay form as a vehicle for intellectual discourse and cultural commentary within the English and American literary traditions. The editor, Head, compiles a selection of representative works to demonstrate how various authors utilize the essay to articulate philosophical, social, and aesthetic arguments. By organizing these texts chronologically or thematically, the volume provides a framework for understanding the development of prose style and rhetorical strategy across several centuries.

This volume is frequently utilized as a foundational reference for students and scholars interested in the history of the essay. Experts note that the selection provides a clear overview of the stylistic shifts that define the English and American literary canons.