This collection investigates the personal correspondence of Gerard Manley Hopkins to clarify the intersection of his religious vocation and his creative output. The editor, Claude Colleer Abbott, compiles these letters to provide a comprehensive view of Hopkins's intellectual development, his struggles with the Jesuit order, and his evolving theories on poetic rhythm and language. By presenting these documents, the text serves as a primary source for understanding the private motivations behind his complex verse.

Scholars and literary critics regard this volume as a foundational resource for any serious study of Hopkins's life and work. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the necessity of the editorial footnotes for navigating the poet's complex allusions.