Paradise Lost

John Milton (1608 - 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 defenses of free speech and freedom of the press.

"[A]n exemplary job both of presenting the major topics of Paradise Lost and of entering the selva oscura of Milton criticism. . . . Students and scholars alike will appreciate the balanced approach to the complexities, difficulties, and conundrums of Milton's poem and the criticism on it.  Kastan's prose is not just lively but chiseled, and it is destined to affect students."
—Patrick Cheney, Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900

"Kastan is an exemplary editor, attuned to emerging critical currents, yet steeped in the scholarship of an earlier tradition, aware of the text's provenance and reception, alert to its topicality.  His introduction, a model of theoretically informed, politically committed, historically grounded criticism, makes this edition of Paradise Lost all you would expect from one of the most erudite and perceptive figures in the field."
—Willy Maley, Modern Language Review
"This is a superb edition, a model of careful editing and judicious annotation."
—Leslie Brisman, Department of English, Yale University 

"Thank you for sending this impressive edition. . . . Having edited Paradise Lost myself (Norton, 2005), I was curious and keen to see Professor Kastan's. I agree wholeheartedly with the claim (more diplomatically put) that the punctuation of the 17th century editions has no authority and that its proponents are avoiding the problem of syntax. The notes are learned and informative, without excess, and it's good to have the text of Edward Phillips' Life."
—Gordon Teskey, Harvard University 
"This is an excellent edition of the poem. . . . Well edited, accessible, and engaging Introduction. Also nicely produced—a sturdy, attractive book on good paper. I love it!"
—Lisa Schnell, University of Vermont
"This is the best edition of Milton. . . . The introductory material and support apparatus provide the contextual information necessary for my students to not only understand Milton's text, but to appreciate it as well.  I will certainly be using this edition again and again."
—Tim Melnarik, Department of English, California State University, San Bernardino
"Suitable, not overwhelming, notes and apparatus. You may be sure I'll order it in future."
—Dr. Stephen Teichgraeber, Concord Academy

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Note on the Text
Paradise Lost

• Andrew Marvell, “On Paradise Lost”
• The Verse
• Book 1
• Book 2
• Book 3
• Book 4
• Book 5
• Book 6
• Book 7
• Book 8
• Book 9
• Book 10
• Book 11
• Book 12

In Context

• Reproductions of the 1674 Paradise Lost
• The Cosmography of Paradise Lost
• Illustrations of Paradise Lost
• Selections from the Bible
  • Genesis 1–3: The Creation
  • Genesis 18: Angels and God
  • Job 1: Satan
  • John 1.1–14: The Son
  • 1 Timothy 2.8–15: Eve in the New Testament
  • Revelation 12: The War in Heaven
• from Hesiod, Theogony
• John Milton’s Early Plans for Paradise Lost
• from John Milton, Areopagitica (1644)
• from John Milton, De Doctrina Christiana (c. 1658–74)
  • from The Epistle
  • from Chapter 2, Of God
  • from Chapter 5, Of the Son of God
  • from Chapter 7, Of the Creation
  • from Chapter 30, Of the Holy Scripture

Permissions Acknowledgments