This work investigates the personal and professional life of the 17th-century antiquarian Anthony à Wood, focusing on his contributions to the history of Oxford. The text utilizes Wood's own diaries and extensive personal papers, curated and edited by Andrew Clark, to reconstruct the social and intellectual climate of the University of Oxford during a period of significant political upheaval. The narrative framework provides a primary-source perspective on the daily life, academic disputes, and historical documentation practices of the era.

Historians and scholars of the 17th century frequently cite this work as a foundational resource for understanding the social history of Oxford. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which remains a standard reference for those studying the life of Anthony à Wood.