The Major Works

by John Milton, Stephen Orgel (Editor), Jonathan Goldberg (Editor)

Previously published in the Oxford Authors series, this unique one-volume selection of Milton's poetry and prose includes all the English and Italian verse and a generous selection of his major prose works. Modernized spelling, extensive notes, and a helpful introduction make the text
immediately accessible to the modern reader.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Classics, Literature, Religion, Plays, Drama

1008 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2003

About the author

People 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.

Reviews

[Chris Vaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more than just a collection of works, but an almost autobiographical anthology of the works of possibly Britain's greatest poet and part time Christian Philosopher. 'The Major Works' lays out both the epic poetry of Milton and the deep religious and political philosophy that drives it. It also offers us an insight into Milton's friendships and somewhat tragic personal life, that guided his writing.

Milton's philosophy can be conflicting, especially as he is so religiously conservative, whilst also being branded heretical by those in power for urging progress in the church. This drips through to the almost sympathetic, yet tragic retelling of the fall of man, but hopeful and inspiring retelling of his redemption.

Milton should read by all who wish to understand an artist's conflict with the powers that be in the search for truth and meaning in a conflicted world of cruelty and kindness, saints and sinners, hope and damnation.

[Briana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hahahahaha, it's been a while since I've been on GoodReads...

It feels like cheating to say that I've read this when I've only read Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained.

I like Milton's style, even though he apparently does not believe in short sentences or quotation marks.

The doctrine is a little sketch, and I've heard that Milton was an Arian heretic...

During the Temptation in Eden scene, all I could think was "Perelandra!!!" over and over again.

Paradise Lost was awesome.
Paradise Regained...not so much...

Which is weird to think about, and I hope my stock responses are not reacting incorrectly.

I feel like tragedies are fundamentally more engaging than comedies, at least in a classic literature sense.

But then, I suppose it depends on whether you actually consider Paradise Lost a tragedy, if you consider that Satan is the hero and comedies are based on the hero succeeding over his obstacles. And Satan does that.

Plus, Milton wrote Jesus kind of flat, and I don't really think it's possible to write dialogue for Jesus without getting something important wrong.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its tough to write a review about this book. Milton was so prolific, and those tome is so large, that the task is basically impossible. Milton was very much a man of his time, a brilliant poet and outspoken about his religious beliefs. His great religious poetic works are represented here, as well as letters, essays and plays. The essays I find surprising at times, such as this quote from "The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates" - "None can love freedom heartily but good men; the rest love not freedom but license, which never hath more scope or more indulgence than under tyrants." It might take some doing to unpack that statement, and more time to truly understand Milton, a man writing from a far different time than our own.

[Jason · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure of why, but I have never warmed up to anything by Milton. Overblown, stilted, heavy, and dull I find his works. He is, certainly, regarded as one of the great writers in English. For some reason, I have trouble hearing that when I peruse his prose. Perhaps it is because, as someone once quipped, Milton is of the Devil's party in Paradise Lost, and that party holds no luster for me.

[Jennifer Irving · Rating 3 out of 5]

the nativity
the aeropagiticia
paradise regained
Samson agonistes

sue me

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used this text for ENGL 335 (Milton and the 17c) at Regent.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The distinctive feature of the man’s poetry is its spiritual quality. His penetrating heavenliness found its countenance in his poetry. Like the needle of the Mariner’s compass, which always points to the North Pole, Milton’s thoughts and actions always pointed to God. He always felt that he was living under the eye of his living Taskmaster. All his writings have an unfathomable, devout undertone. To spend a day with Milton is to touch the living presence of God. His patriotism, love of self-determination, detestation of autocracy, everything has its origin in religion. Almost his entire Paradise Lost was written to substantiate the ways of God to man.

[max theodore]

OKAY FINE I LIKE PARADISE LOST NOW.

(read for class: paradise lost, paradise regained, a multitude of the shorter poems and masques, aereopagitica, pieces of milton's works on divorce and kingship)

[Eric Willeforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest English author after Shakespeare, Chaucer, and maybe Dickens and Tyndale. Not much more to say but that Bloom is right in calling Paradise Lost gorgeous science fiction.

[Taka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again, I didn't read every work in the book.

The works I covered are, though, all the major ones: Paradise Regained, Samson Agonistes, Areopagitica, and some of his short poems including "Nativity Hymn" and "Lycidas." Having read Milton's oeuvre, my conclusion is that his Paradise Lost is the most enjoyable work and his other works don't really live up to the level of mastery and fascination his magnum opus achieves. The figure of Satan is quite possibly one of the most engrossing characters in the history of literature.

Though it was surprising to find the pale spirit of John Stuart Mill in his Areopagitica, I thought the work was really nothing impressive or worth the time to engage in and plod through the often difficult and meandering 17th-century prose.

Paradise Regained, although it's supposed to be Milton's personal favorite, was a lot less engaging than its prequel largely because of the action-less subject matter. It was also unnecessarily long with digressions and pedantic arguments and refutations.

Finally, while rather short and somewhat eventful, Samson Agonistes suffers from frequent excurses involving numerous Biblical references and crude and two-dimensional characters very much reminiscent of those appearing in the Ancient Greek tragedians (of course, these may very well have been his models).

All in all, I would have personally benefitted from skipping his lesser works altogether and moved on after Paradise Lost.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love love LOVE Milton. I especially love reading Paradise Lost in tandem with I, Lucifer (super modern piece). Milton's language is sweeping and poignant and makes even prudence blush with pride and fervor.

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was hard to read at times, it was interesting. Paradise Lost is kind of like a Biblical retelling which is cool and definitely very thought provoking. Might read Paradise Regained at a later time. Might not. We'll see.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's okay, especially if you like iambs.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's right, people. I've read the essays. I've read the poems. I've read Paradise Lost, Regained, even Samson Agonistes. (Also the entire Bible.) Am I a better man for it? Yes, yes I am.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dissertation advisor Dr. J Goldberg edited this book. He focuses more on John Milton in the English Revolution as a political figure. It really colors the way you read Paradise Lost.

[M.I. Lastman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know that I am supposed to like Milton's poetry, but I mostly find it unspeakably turgid.

[Lucy Samuelsen]

Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained: November 2011

[Josh Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not read this cover-to-cover, but one doesn't need to.

[Anisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars