The Critical Heritage series collects together a large body of criticism on major figures in literature. Each volume presents the contemporary responses to a particular writer, enabling the student to follow the formation of critical attitudes to the writer's work and its place within a literary tradition.

The carefully selected sources range from landmark essays in the history of criticism to fragments of contemporary opinion and little published documentary material, such as letters and diaries.

Significant pieces of criticism from later periods are also included in order to demonstrate fluctuations in reputation following the writer's death.

This new volume in the series includes criticism on the work of William Wordsworth during the period 1793-1820. Extremely wide-ranging in its coverage, over 250 diary extracts, letters, reviews, comments, and opinions by and about Wordsworth are gathered together here for the first time. An invaluable addition to any literary library.