John Milton
John Milton (1608-1674) was an English poet and intellectual, author of Paradise Lost, one of the greatest epic poems in the English language. A towering figure of 17th-century literature and thought, he combined immense learning with soaring poetic power and a fierce commitment to liberty.
Paradise Lost retells the Biblical story of the fall of humankind — Satan's rebellion, the temptation of Adam and Eve, and their expulsion from Eden — in majestic blank verse, aiming to 'justify the ways of God to men.' Milton also wrote the sequel Paradise Regained, the tragedy Samson Agonistes, and the influential prose defence of free speech, Areopagitica.
A passionate republican, Milton served the government during England's brief period without a king and went completely blind in his forties, composing his great epic by dictation. His work has shaped English poetry ever since.
His verse is grand but demanding. Our editions present it clearly for modern readers. Read the opening free, and read or listen with a membership.
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Frequently asked questions about John Milton
What did John Milton write?
Milton's masterpiece is the epic poem Paradise Lost. He also wrote Paradise Regained, the tragedy Samson Agonistes, shorter poems like 'Lycidas' and 'L'Allegro,' and important prose works including Areopagitica, a famous defence of free speech. Paradise Lost is the work for which he is most celebrated.
What is Paradise Lost about?
Paradise Lost retells the Biblical story of the Fall: Satan's rebellion against God and expulsion from Heaven, his temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and humankind's loss of paradise. Written in majestic blank verse, it explores free will, pride, obedience, and redemption. Its complex, almost sympathetic portrait of Satan has fascinated readers for centuries.
Is Paradise Lost hard to read?
It is challenging — written in elaborate 17th-century blank verse dense with Biblical and classical allusion. But its story is dramatic and its language magnificent, and it rewards patient reading. A clear modern edition, with the narrative made easy to follow, opens up this towering poem for today's readers.
Where should I start with Milton?
Paradise Lost is his essential work, and its opening books — Satan's defiance and the council in Hell — are the most gripping place to begin. You can read it book by book rather than all at once. His shorter poems and the prose Areopagitica are more accessible if you'd like a gentler introduction.
Did Milton write Paradise Lost while blind?
Yes — Milton went completely blind in his early forties, and he composed Paradise Lost by dictating it, line by line, to assistants who wrote it down. That he created one of the greatest poems in English entirely from memory and imagination, without sight, is one of the astonishing facts of literary history.
When did John Milton live?
Milton lived from 1608 to 1674, through the English Civil War and the brief republic that followed. He served the revolutionary government and published Paradise Lost in 1667, after the monarchy was restored and he had lost both his sight and his political standing. He is regarded as one of the greatest English poets.
Where can I read Milton for free?
Milton's works are in the public domain and freely available. His original verse is dense. Here you can read the opening of Paradise Lost free in clear modern English, and read or listen with a membership.
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