This collection investigates the intellectual and personal development of David Hume through his private and professional correspondence during the mid-18th century. J. Y. T. Greig, a noted scholar of the period, curates these letters to provide a primary source window into the life of a central Enlightenment figure. By organizing the correspondence chronologically, the text establishes a framework for understanding Hume's interactions with the era's most influential thinkers and the evolution of his philosophical inquiries.

Scholars and historians frequently cite this edition as a foundational resource for studying the life and social network of David Hume. Readers often note the academic density of the prose and the meticulous nature of the editorial work provided by Greig.