This volume investigates the historical evolution and stylistic diversity of satirical verse within the English literary tradition. Editor Geoffrey Grigson, an established poet and critic, curates a selection of 232 poems to demonstrate the breadth of the satirical form. The collection utilizes a chronological framework to trace how poets have employed wit, irony, and invective to critique social and political structures across several centuries.

Critics and scholars frequently cite this anthology as a comprehensive reference for the development of satirical techniques in English poetry. Readers often note the academic rigor of the selection process, which balances well-known classics with lesser-known examples of the genre.