ˈɛdɪɾɚ sˈʌlɪvənz stˈeɪɾᵻd pˈɜːpəs ɪn kəmpˈaɪlɪŋ ðə vˈɑːljuːm, æz nˈoʊɾᵻd ɪn hɪz fˈɔːɹwɜːd tə ðə bˈʊk, wʌz tə sˈɜːv æz ˈeɪ “bɹˈɪŋɪŋ təɡˌɛðɚɹ ɪn wˈʌn vˈɑːljuːm ʌvðə ʒˈɑːnɹəz mˈɛni pɹæktˈɪʃənɚz ænd ðɛɹ kˌɑːntɹɪbjˈuːʃənz tə ðɪ ˈɑːɹts.”
Editor Sullivan’s stated purpose in compiling the volume, as noted in his foreword to the book, was to serve as a “bringing together in one volume of the genre’s many practitioners and their contributions to the arts.”