Paradise Lost: Legacy Edition (Clothbound Hardcover) with 50 Classic Illustrations by Gustave Dore

by John Milton, Tyler Van Halteren, Lauren Ducommun

Many beautiful versions of Paradise Lost have been produced since its publication in 1667. However, most of these beautiful editions are out of print and few heirloom-quality editions exist today. The famed illustrator Gustave Doré produced fifty engraved plates in 1866 which became the definitive illustrations of Milton’s epic and are reproduced in this volume. The spelling in this book has been lightly updated in cases where it would confuse modern readers. Explanatory notes are included in the margins for allusions to Greek mythology and obscure words. Our hope is that, as this story impacted Milton’s generation, this edition will continue the legacy of this book for many generations to come.

Genres: Classics

446 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2024

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

[Cathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful masterpiece that will enrich any believer’s walk with our Lord! This was quite the adventure and hit emotionally with this beautiful epic we are blessed to read. I have no experience with epic poetry, so I did prep work before starting “of man’s first disobedience”. I took my time and savored each book as I went through the story of Satan’s rebellion to Christ’s victory. So many parts moved me spiritually and felt worshipful as they glorified Christ. I will say the Easter season was a lovely time to take this reading journey! Reading aloud satiated all my creative senses as the drama unfolded- the crescendos in the verse, the tragedy of the story, and the description offered to my imagination. The book opened with Satan’s fall and it was unsettling, but stick with Milton as Book 3 is worth the commitment. I thought Adam was such an interesting portrayal and I enjoyed following him through creation, temptation, repentance, and the sadness of leaving Eden. One of Adam’s last lines was “Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best, and love with fear the only God; to walk as in His Presence; ever to observe this ponderance, and on Him sole depend, merciful over all his works, with good still over any evil”.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you rate a work like this today? It is a classic and fixture in the western canon for good reason. It is a work of genius. Yet the genre, much of the language, and the classical allusions make it difficult for impatient modern readers like myself.

There's much to enjoy, but it is too long and the genre itself seems to have been as much a burden to Milton as it was a boon.

This edition, however, is magnificent. I wish more books were made to this kind of standard!

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It will most certainly not be my last read. It was simply the first taste of the banquet that has been laid.

[Brooke Chessum · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating epic with a high view of God. It is a worthwhile endeavor to read this as it has shaped so many writers over the last 400 years. A close read of this will make you more literarily relevant than any other book I can currently think of. I love that in past societies the wonders of Eden and ways of God were meditated on more than we even think of them now. Milton clearly loved mythology and scripture as he references both so abundantly and seamlessly throughout his poem. It (for me!) did lag at points but is worth persevering through it. This may be controversial I’m not he achieves his goal - to justify the ways of God to man. Can you build upon the words of a perfect and Holy God? I’d say not. But this work lifts the mind high as any reader will find more to identify with in Satan than in perfection! Praise God that the hope and salvation Milton centers upon is free to all who believe, not just something to wish for after the book ends.

On a practical note I found I enjoyed it most when I could sit and read an entire book in one sitting. The writing flows so seamlessly once you get reading.