The Empty Garden: The Subject of Late Milton

by Ashraf H.A. Rushdy

The Empty Garde n draws a portrait of Milton as a cultural and religious critic who, in his latest and greatest poems, wrote narratives that illustrate the proper relationships among the individual, the community, and God. Rushdy argues that the political theory implicit in these relationships arises from Milton’s own drive for self-knowledge, a kind of knowledge that gives the individual freedom to act in accordance with his or her own understanding of God’s will rather than the state’s. Rushdy redefines Milton’s creative spirit in a way that encompasses his poetic, political, and religious careers.

536 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 1992

About the author

Ashraf H.A. Rushdy is a Professor of African American Studies and English at Wesleyan University.