This book investigates the historical and linguistic origins of the concept of social class and examines the motivations behind the persistent use of class-based terminology in modern discourse. P. N. Furbank, a noted literary critic and biographer, employs a rigorous analytical framework to deconstruct how class labels function as social constructs rather than objective realities. He argues that the deployment of these terms often serves specific ideological purposes, reflecting the speaker's intentions rather than an empirical social structure.

Scholars and critics frequently note the intellectual density and precise prose characteristic of Furbank's analytical style. Experts highlight this work as a significant contribution to the study of social language and the deconstruction of political rhetoric.