This handbook serves as a comprehensive reference guide designed to define and contextualize the vast terminology associated with the study of literature in English. William Harmon, a distinguished scholar of English literature, compiles this extensive lexicon to provide students and researchers with a reliable framework for understanding the technical, historical, and critical vocabulary used in literary analysis. By synthesizing information across linguistics, rhetoric, and book history, the text functions as a foundational tool for navigating academic discourse.

The subject matter points to a dense, specialist text intended for academic use by students and scholars of English literature. Its long-standing reputation as a standard reference work suggests a high level of utility for those requiring precise definitions and historical context in their research.