This volume investigates the evolution of critical reception regarding the works of playwright Philip Massinger from the seventeenth through the nineteenth centuries. Martin Garrett, a scholar of early modern literature, compiles a wide array of primary source documents to trace how Massinger's reputation shifted across different literary eras. By contextualizing these responses within the political and theatrical frameworks of their respective times, the author provides a structured analysis of how historical audiences and writers engaged with Massinger's dramatic output.

Scholars and students of seventeenth-century drama frequently cite this collection as a foundational resource for understanding the historical reception of Massinger. The text is noted for its clear organization and the breadth of its primary source documentation, making it a standard reference for those studying the history of English theater criticism.