This volume investigates the evolution of Shakespearean reception and critical discourse during the mid-eighteenth century. Brian Vickers, a distinguished scholar of English literature, compiles a comprehensive collection of primary source documents, including essays, prefaces, and reviews from 1733 to 1752. The work provides a structured framework for understanding how contemporary critics and editors interpreted Shakespeare's plays, language, and dramatic structure during a period of significant editorial activity.

Scholars and researchers frequently cite this series as a foundational resource for studying the history of Shakespearean criticism. The text is noted for its academic rigor and its utility in providing direct access to rare historical documents.