This volume seeks to provide a comprehensive and scholarly record of the complete literary output of William Blake, including significant textual variants across his major works. The editor, Geoffrey Keynes, utilizes extensive archival research and manuscript analysis to present a definitive collection that tracks the evolution of Blake's complex mythological and poetic systems. By documenting the variations in wording and structure, the text allows for a rigorous examination of Blake's creative process and his shifting philosophical concerns throughout his career.

Scholars and literary historians regard this collection as a foundational reference for the study of Romantic-era poetry. Readers frequently note the academic density of the editorial apparatus, which is designed for serious researchers rather than casual readers.