Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained

by John Milton

Book Overview

Here in one volume are the complete texts of two of the greatest -and most controversial -epic poems in English literature, each a profound exploration of the moral problems of God's justice. Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained demonstrate Milton's genius for fusing sense and sound, classicism and innovation, narrative and drama, fortifying not merely our sense of what is beautiful but what is human as well. It leaves readers with no choice but to commit themselves totally with their minds and with their hearts.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451524748
• ISBN13: 9780451524744
• Release Date: February 1968
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 399 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Library book

Didn’t realize I was paying $30 for a book that was taken from a library. Stamped and with the library logo and barcode taped to it.

So much better than reading it yourself!

Let's face it. Reading Milton is no cakewalk. Oscar Wilde once said a writer was a "prose Milton" then added, "but so is Milton." That's why Anton Lesser's reading is genius. It's so genius, it demonstrates the genius of Milton. Laura Paton can't quite match Anton in his Shakespearean crispness and demonic force, but she only reads the few speeches of Eve.Yes, it's an abridged version. But when they say abridged, they barely mean it. Whole books are included on the three (THREE!) CDs and ones that aren't read fully are here in Milton's own summaries. I recommend getting the NORTON CRITICAL EDITION OF PARADISE LOST to read along with this (although everything that's read is included in a booklet that also comes (!) with the CDs. The Norton Crit has the full text (should you want it) along with good footnotes and essays.This is all so well done and so mindbogglingly cheap for how long it is (four hours!), I'm a little baffled why I hadn't heard of it before. Every English teacher will tell you that Milton should be read aloud. So why not have Anton Lesser do it for you? He does it so dern well.

Continually Rewarding

Naxos audio maintain their high reputation with this excellent production of Milton's classic; wonderfully read by Anton Lesser, with Laura Paton as Eve.Paradise Lost can be a difficult read. Personally, I could never get round to comitting myself to the book, but this reading really brings it to life, and is well worth spending the time and money. Milton creates many wonderous and fantastical images and characters. Satan is shown as a tragic hero, tormented by the innocence of Adam and Eve, and prompted to revenge. Milton actually uses his characters to play 'devil's advocate' (literally!) by asking many paradoxical questions of the biblical story. Considering this book was first printed at the height of the witchcraft paranoia of the seventeenth century, it's amazing he managed to get away with it.Full of allegory and layers of meaning, this is a CD set you can enjoy again and again.

Milton Accessible

Ricks provides the most helpful and least pedantic footnotes since James Holly Hanford's edition. They are unobtrusive and on the same page as the text. The text itself is reliable and in modern spelling, but Milton's apostrophes have been retained to make certain that the pronunciations he specified (for metrical reasons) are indicated. There could, perhaps, be wider margins for making annotations.

Speechless

I am only 16 years old, and I read this book for interest's sake last fall. I liked it so much that I asked for it for Christmas--and got two copies! This book is a masterpiece. Though many people consider Shakespeare to be an even greater literary genius than Milton, I think that Milton was the best of the time. His ideas and the way that he fills out the story is amazing. He has so many unique ideas and thoughts! I had to stop all the time during this book to ponder the truths of what Milton wrote. I definately recommend this book--to readers of any age!