This volume investigates the evolution of Shakespearean reception and critical interpretation during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Brian Vickers, a distinguished scholar of English literature, compiles a comprehensive collection of primary source documents, including essays, prefaces, and correspondence from the period. The work argues that the critical framework established during these decades fundamentally shaped the canonization of Shakespeare as a central figure in English letters.

Scholars and students of Shakespearean history frequently cite this series as a foundational resource for understanding the historical reception of the playwright's work. The text is noted for its academic rigor and the meticulous curation of rare archival materials.