This anthology investigates the breadth of eighteenth-century verse by challenging the traditional canon through the inclusion of both canonical and marginalized voices. Editor Roger Lonsdale, a scholar of eighteenth-century literature, compiles a comprehensive collection that juxtaposes the works of established poets like Pope and Blake with the writings of forgotten authors from diverse social strata. The primary argument posits that the period's poetic output was far more varied, idiosyncratic, and socially expansive than conventional literary history suggests.

Scholars and critics frequently cite this anthology as a foundational resource for understanding the true diversity of eighteenth-century poetic expression. The text is widely regarded as a standard reference for those seeking to move beyond the traditional literary canon to explore the period's full range of voices.