This work investigates the core philosophical framework of Samuel Taylor Coleridge by synthesizing his disparate writings into a coherent, unified system of thought. Owen Barfield, a noted philosopher and member of the Inklings, utilizes his deep familiarity with Coleridge’s prose and poetry to reconstruct the poet’s intellectual objectives. The book argues that Coleridge’s primary aim was not merely to impart knowledge, but to activate the reader’s own capacity for independent, organic thinking.

Scholars and students of Romanticism frequently cite this text as a primary resource for navigating the complexities of Coleridge’s philosophical output. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires careful attention to grasp the nuances of Barfield’s synthesis.