Paradise Lost
Milton, John
Himes, John A.
Paperback
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If you haven't read Milton's Paradise Lost you're missing about a quadrillion references to it in books, movies, poetry, music, you name it.  It's been in my pile of "classical literature I really need to read" as I'm an English major and not getting those all important references can be detrimental to my academic career.  I recently came into possesion of an old copy of it so I have big plans to start reading it in the coming summer break before graduate school. 

It's probably not everyone's favorite; if you don't like to read epic poems in free verse than you probably won't enjoy Milton's Paradise Lost. However, it is considered to be one of the greatest pieces of literature written in English.  So it's worth it to step out of your comfort zone to read a great, historically potent piece of literature, one that has, more than likely, inspired many authors and poets in the last 350 years or so.

In Paradise Lost, Milton has two main story arcs, that of Lucifer and that of Adam and Eve.  It is the Genesis retelling of Adam and Eve's fall from grace and their subsequent expulsion from Eden.  Paradise Lost also references tales from the Metamorphoses, the Iliad and Odyssey, and the Aeneid.  I personally love Ovid's Metamorphoses, what snippits that I've read anyway.  There's something about the old lyrical form that is both impressive and beautiful. 

Milton began writing Paradise Lost in 1658, at the age of 50.  Blind, he required others to transcribe the work for him as he recited verses every morning that he claimed were inspired by a divine spirit at night.  While it was probably completed in 1664 it was not published until 1667.  In 1674 a major revision and reprinting was made, redividing the original 10 books into 12, and with minor revisions throughout and a note about the versification.

Summary

First published in 1667, Paradise Lost is considered to be the greatest epic poem in English literature. Written in twelve books, the blank verse poem draws upon Bible stories and classical mythology to explore the meaning of existence, as understood by people of the Western world. Its roots lie in the Genesis account of the world's creation and Adam and Eve's expulsion from Eden; it also references tales from the Metamorphoses, the Iliad and Odyssey, and the Aeneid. In sublime poetry of extraordinary beauty, Milton creates a rich and complex Christian mythology that has inspired countless writers and artists. Notes by John A. Himes

Excerpt

(From Project Gutenberg - may not resemble the exact text of the copy represented on this page.)

Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste
Brought death into the World, and all our woe,
With loss of Eden, till one greater Man
Restore us, and regain the blissful seat...