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The Complete English Poems
John Milton wrote poetry of such sublime beauty that he managed, through its universal influence, to transform the character of the English language.
From his astonishing epic Paradise Lost, with its magnificent blank verse and mesmerizing characters, to the tragic brilliance of Samson Agonistes, Milton engaged the political and religious issues of his troubled times with subtlety and sophistication. His moving elegy “Lycidas,” written after the untimely drowning death of a friend, has been hailed as the greatest lyric poem in English. The classic shorter works, from the pastoral poems “L’Allegro” and “Il Penseroso” to the enchanting masque Comus, to the intensely personal sonnets, share the grandeur and vitality of his epics; all serve as continual reminders of the heights the human imagination can achieve. With an introduction by Gordon Campbell.
(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)
696 pages, Hardcover
First published October 28, 2009
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675 people want to read
About the author
John Milton
3,770 books2,241 followersPeople best know John Milton, English scholar, for
Paradise Lost
, the epic poem of 1667 and an account of fall of humanity from grace.
Beelzebub, one fallen angel in Paradise Lost, of John Milton, lay in power next to Satan.
Belial, one fallen angel, rebelled against God in Paradise Lost of John Milton.
John Milton, polemicist, man of letters, served the civil Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote in blank verse at a time of religious flux and political upheaval.
Prose of John Milton reflects deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self-determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day. He wrote in Latin, Greek, and Italian and achieved international renown within his lifetime, and his celebrated Areopagitica (1644) in condemnation of censorship before publication among most influential and impassioned defenses of free speech and the press of history.
William Hayley in biography of 1796 called and generally regarded John Milton, the "greatest ... author," "as one of the preeminent writers in the ... language," though since his death, critical reception oscillated often on his republicanism in the centuries. Samuel Johnson praised, "with respect to design may claim the first place, and with respect to performance, the second, among the productions of the ... mind," though he, a Tory and recipient of royal patronage, described politics of Milton, an "acrimonious and surly republican."
Because of his republicanism, centuries of British partisanship subjected John Milton.
Beelzebub, one fallen angel in Paradise Lost, of John Milton, lay in power next to Satan.
Belial, one fallen angel, rebelled against God in Paradise Lost of John Milton.
John Milton, polemicist, man of letters, served the civil Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote in blank verse at a time of religious flux and political upheaval.
Prose of John Milton reflects deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self-determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day. He wrote in Latin, Greek, and Italian and achieved international renown within his lifetime, and his celebrated Areopagitica (1644) in condemnation of censorship before publication among most influential and impassioned defenses of free speech and the press of history.
William Hayley in biography of 1796 called and generally regarded John Milton, the "greatest ... author," "as one of the preeminent writers in the ... language," though since his death, critical reception oscillated often on his republicanism in the centuries. Samuel Johnson praised, "with respect to design may claim the first place, and with respect to performance, the second, among the productions of the ... mind," though he, a Tory and recipient of royal patronage, described politics of Milton, an "acrimonious and surly republican."
Because of his republicanism, centuries of British partisanship subjected John Milton.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 12, 2019
Please note that I read this annotated version in tandem with the Norton edition, so a few comparisons will follow in my review.
I have often attempted Milton and found myself getting somewhat lost in his syntax, which was meant as a guide for pauses, semi pauses, and complete stops in the reading of the poem. Once you get a feel for how Milton constructs a passage of verse, the poem will unfold its story beautifully and so sublimely that it almost makes the first few chapters of Genesis feel like the Cliff notes version of the story. I don’t mean this to be blasphemous, but Milton professes to have been inspired and I believe him—“Paradise Lost” is that good!
There are plenty of reviews that delve into the story, but suffice it to mention that before you undertake this poem, I think it is imperative that you not only get a good grounding of the Pentateuch, but also in Greek mythology, the gospels, and cosmology (yes, there are some really interesting descriptions that lean strikingly open to Copernicus and Galileo). It will not hurt to include some basic grounding of the Protestant Reformation as well before reading the poem.
Sounds like a lot of work? I’m afraid there are no shortcuts to reading Milton. Believe me, if you are interested in reading the poem, such foregrounding will only enrich your enjoyment of Paradise Lost, which is chock full of references to mythology.
I also recommend readers to seek out the audible edition by Charlton Griffin that includes a biography of John Milton in the first two hours, followed by “Paradise Lost” and its lesser-read sequel “Paradise Regained.” Milton deserves to be heard as well as read, and my reading intensified by following the words in the book while Griffin read with all the appropriate pauses and the playful language really shines through. Griffin’s narration helped me immensely through “Paradise Lost” and I see this as an audiobook that will only get richer with repeated listenings.
Also, I highly recommend that you augment your Milton experience with the BBC production of the play on BBC Radio 4 as well as the film documentary, which can be found on youtube: https://youtu.be/4j__itIVgOk
There is a segment towards the end where the Milton scholar, Armando Iannucci, holds a first edition of “Paradise Lost” with a white-gloved hand and is so enraptured in holding and reading the volume that he forgets he is being filmed; the excitement is palpable and contagious. What I am trying to convey here in my review is that Milton benefitted from some supplemental grounding, audio versions, and documentaries to enrich my reading.
Thus, it also helps to have the Norton edition, replete with explanatory footnotes that are placed judicially and sparingly at the bottom of the page, so as to not bog down your reading with them. It helped me to read the poem first in sections and then go back to the footnotes of that section.
The Norton also includes biographical and literary backgrounds coupled with classic and contemporary criticisms as well as excerpts from his other works; the shorter “Paradise Regained” is surprisingly absent. But do not fret, there is also this “Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems” available in the kindle store; although some of the footnotes are redundant: do I really need a note that explains Milton’s use the word “of” means “about”?
The Norton, on the other hand, contains notes that delve into the historical, biblical, and mythological. In short, all manner of aspects that informed Milton’s vision, without overwhelming the text.
As for the poem itself, the descriptions of the fluidity of sexless spirits that limb their forms in different ways are delightful. And more than a few times, we see references that seem not to invite us to think of life on other worlds, while all the while drawing us there in the effort. Milton fills in many gaps in the Genesis story, as we are taken from a prelapsarian paradise that changes from idyllic nurturing to a state wherein beasts turn against each other. It is as if we are there with Adam and Eve at the fall, and at the end of the book, I did not feel that there was a need for a second part. Adam and Eve walk out of paradise, imperfect, humbled and loved; and they are not alone, for we go with them.
I have often attempted Milton and found myself getting somewhat lost in his syntax, which was meant as a guide for pauses, semi pauses, and complete stops in the reading of the poem. Once you get a feel for how Milton constructs a passage of verse, the poem will unfold its story beautifully and so sublimely that it almost makes the first few chapters of Genesis feel like the Cliff notes version of the story. I don’t mean this to be blasphemous, but Milton professes to have been inspired and I believe him—“Paradise Lost” is that good!
There are plenty of reviews that delve into the story, but suffice it to mention that before you undertake this poem, I think it is imperative that you not only get a good grounding of the Pentateuch, but also in Greek mythology, the gospels, and cosmology (yes, there are some really interesting descriptions that lean strikingly open to Copernicus and Galileo). It will not hurt to include some basic grounding of the Protestant Reformation as well before reading the poem.
Sounds like a lot of work? I’m afraid there are no shortcuts to reading Milton. Believe me, if you are interested in reading the poem, such foregrounding will only enrich your enjoyment of Paradise Lost, which is chock full of references to mythology.
I also recommend readers to seek out the audible edition by Charlton Griffin that includes a biography of John Milton in the first two hours, followed by “Paradise Lost” and its lesser-read sequel “Paradise Regained.” Milton deserves to be heard as well as read, and my reading intensified by following the words in the book while Griffin read with all the appropriate pauses and the playful language really shines through. Griffin’s narration helped me immensely through “Paradise Lost” and I see this as an audiobook that will only get richer with repeated listenings.
Also, I highly recommend that you augment your Milton experience with the BBC production of the play on BBC Radio 4 as well as the film documentary, which can be found on youtube: https://youtu.be/4j__itIVgOk
There is a segment towards the end where the Milton scholar, Armando Iannucci, holds a first edition of “Paradise Lost” with a white-gloved hand and is so enraptured in holding and reading the volume that he forgets he is being filmed; the excitement is palpable and contagious. What I am trying to convey here in my review is that Milton benefitted from some supplemental grounding, audio versions, and documentaries to enrich my reading.
Thus, it also helps to have the Norton edition, replete with explanatory footnotes that are placed judicially and sparingly at the bottom of the page, so as to not bog down your reading with them. It helped me to read the poem first in sections and then go back to the footnotes of that section.
The Norton also includes biographical and literary backgrounds coupled with classic and contemporary criticisms as well as excerpts from his other works; the shorter “Paradise Regained” is surprisingly absent. But do not fret, there is also this “Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems” available in the kindle store; although some of the footnotes are redundant: do I really need a note that explains Milton’s use the word “of” means “about”?
The Norton, on the other hand, contains notes that delve into the historical, biblical, and mythological. In short, all manner of aspects that informed Milton’s vision, without overwhelming the text.
As for the poem itself, the descriptions of the fluidity of sexless spirits that limb their forms in different ways are delightful. And more than a few times, we see references that seem not to invite us to think of life on other worlds, while all the while drawing us there in the effort. Milton fills in many gaps in the Genesis story, as we are taken from a prelapsarian paradise that changes from idyllic nurturing to a state wherein beasts turn against each other. It is as if we are there with Adam and Eve at the fall, and at the end of the book, I did not feel that there was a need for a second part. Adam and Eve walk out of paradise, imperfect, humbled and loved; and they are not alone, for we go with them.
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February 9, 2017"Experts" say one should always begin a criticism with something positive, so, um...this is a really pretty volume. It has a luxurious looking tooled cover with gilt page edges, and even comes with a ribbon bookmark! And even though it's from the public library, it looks like it hasn't been opened in 40 years.
I. Just. Can't. I don't like poetry to begin with, and wading through a volume of Milton's poems is too daunting a task. "Harvard Great Books" notwithstanding. Maybe if I were 25, I'd push through it, but there just isn't enough left of my life to make reading this worthwhile.
I. Just. Can't. I don't like poetry to begin with, and wading through a volume of Milton's poems is too daunting a task. "Harvard Great Books" notwithstanding. Maybe if I were 25, I'd push through it, but there just isn't enough left of my life to make reading this worthwhile.
January 2, 2016
These poems are beautiful and unique. Particularly in Paradise Lost and Samson Agonistes I found myself marking passages to return to again later. It is easy to understand why these are considered among the greatest works of all time.
July 26, 2023
I have proudly finished Paradise Lost. Out of the few epics I’ve read I can’t say this is my favorite, but I also can’t deny it’s influence in English literature and poetry. My knowledge is at a very introductory level, and I’m grateful for the experience. It was a lot of work. Perhaps if Milton wrote women with a little less disdain I would have liked it a little more. Great in many ways, just not for me.
July 30, 2025
often felt like a prolonged sermon wrapped in classical references and theological posturing. while there are flashes of lyrical beauty, much of the collection is dense, self-important, and emotionally distant. his obsession with moral order and divine hierarchy overshadows any human warmth. it’s less poetry for the soul, more homework for the pious. admirable, maybe-but almost not enjoyable
November 7, 2025
I actually quite liked a lot of Miltons poems. He clearly had to deal with a lot of friction when it came to understanding his own religion and existence and purpose as a poet, and it's nice to see that thought process expressed. I will always have my qualms with Milton and much of his writing, but this was not as miserable of an experience as I thought it would be.
That being said, I enjoyed the academic papers in the back of the book on Milton more than any of the poems themself so yeah
That being said, I enjoyed the academic papers in the back of the book on Milton more than any of the poems themself so yeah
August 16, 2007
So this book has all of Milton's poetry annotated and compiled into one volume, but I'm mostly interested in Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, both of which I read as an undergrad and was astonished to discover I loved. Studying literature and Bible side by side opened my eyes to how many of our ideas and images from the Bible do not originate in the scriptures, but in the pages of classical literature, specifically the works of Dante and Milton. Virtually every stereotypical image of angels and demons we conjure in our minds and on paper, canvas, etc. comes directly from Paradise Lost. That Milton could conjure up such vivid imagery as a man who was completely blind and dictated the lines of his epic poems to a scribe is beyond me, but there it is. Don't be intimidated...Paradise lost and Paradise Regained are not just some of the greatest epic poetry of all time, they're both exciting and fascinating stories to be savored and enjoyed.
July 27, 2011
I was loving this until I got to Paradie Lost. I'm putting this away until I have to perform an act of penance.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
March 31, 2025
2025
5 Stars
Paradise Lost
5 Stars
Paradise Lost
September 22, 2007
Okay, I'll confess I didn't read all of this. But I did read the sonnets, and I like them. Milton, of course, is a genius.
May 15, 2011
Paradise Lost.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews