John Milton (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet, polemicist, man of letters, and civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote at a time of religious flux and political upheaval, and is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost (1667), written in blank verse. Milton's poetry and prose reflect deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self-determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day. Writing in English, Latin, Greek, and Italian, he ...
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John Milton (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet, polemicist, man of letters, and civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote at a time of religious flux and political upheaval, and is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost (1667), written in blank verse. Milton's poetry and prose reflect deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self-determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day. Writing in English, Latin, Greek, and Italian, he achieved international renown within his lifetime, and his celebrated Areopagitica (1644)-written in condemnation of pre-publication censorship-is among history's most influential and impassioned defences of free speech and freedom of the press.
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Written in 1667 Paradise Lost is an epic poem depicting the events of the Bible with an emphasis on Genesis Chapters Two and Three. The following is a list of events included in the narrative: God casting a prideful and arrogant Satan with one-third of the angels out of heaven, the creation of Adam and Eve, the deception of the serpent, the disobedience of Adam and Eve, and their subsequent removal from the Garden of Eden. The Son of God and the archangels Gabriel and Michael play major roles in the story. God's grace, wisdom, and love and Satan's pride, arrogance, and ambition are the major themes of this work. I will admit that this is not easy reading and I really had to focus to understand what was taking place in the narrative. Still, I did like this book a great deal with its rich vocabulary, vivid imagery, and many references to Near Eastern mythology, Egyptian mythology, Greek and Roman mythology, the Bible, and classical literature.
Shanlee2405
Apr 1, 2010
I ordered this for my fiance and he is liking it a lot. He hasn't finished it b/c he has school work to do, but he can't wait until the semester is over so he can start reading again.
The Pageturner
Oct 29, 2008
Gigantic, Difficult Book Worth Reading
Imagine a book the size of the 7th Harry Potter book, but you don't understand any of the language. Welcome to "Paradise Lost". This book in itself is a literary masterpiece and sheer genius. Using poetry to describe the Fall of Man from different perspectives, it is a great way to open discussions ranging from religion to the secular world. I will admit that this book is very lengthy, so lengthy that you feel like you are dying on the inside and want to rip out your hair. But, it is a sort of accomplishment reading it and if you have a book to interpret the language or Cliff notes, you will find this story fascinating. If it were a motion picture, most likely it would be worth seeing. Read "Paradise Lost". If you enjoy that book, read the sequel. I think it is called "Paradise Returned".
