This volume investigates the transformation of English literary culture during the period between 1645 and 1714, focusing on how political upheaval and social change influenced the production and reception of texts. Margaret J. M. Ezell, a scholar of early modern literature, utilizes a combination of archival research and historical analysis to argue that the later seventeenth century was a period of significant innovation rather than mere transition. She examines how the collapse of traditional patronage systems and the rise of print culture reshaped the roles of authors and readers alike.

Scholars and students of the period frequently cite this work for its rigorous archival grounding and its nuanced challenge to traditional periodization. Experts highlight this as a foundational text for understanding the complexities of the literary marketplace in the late seventeenth century.