Reviews

I should read poetry more often. However, just fyi, I didn't have time to read the second epic. I only read about the losing of paradise. And that, my friends, is worthy of the "classic" label.

mariekennedy's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

jasibun's review against another edition

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5.0

Had to re-read parts so much pre book 2 to understand it, but everything was so beautiful.

Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round,
Behind him cast. The broad circumference
Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb through optic glass the Tuscan artist views.
At evening, from the top of Fesole,
Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands,
Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe.
His spear—to equal which the tallest pine
Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast
Of some great ammiral, were but a wand.

But Satan, with his Powers, far was advanced on winged speed; an host
Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun
Impearls on every leaf and every flower.

jhnd's review against another edition

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5.0

Exquisite poetry. Beautifully crafted language that should be marvelled at, enjoyed.

And sheds light on the root of so much of society's misogyny. For that, don't blame Milton - he replicated prejudice contained in the source material!

sarahg86's review against another edition

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4.0

I read Paradise Lost because I had read the His Dark Materials trilogy a few years ago and I was curious about the poem it was based on, it took me a while to get into and understand what was being said in some places but I did enjoy it. I didn't really read Paradise Regained as I wasn't that interested in this poem as much as Paradise Lost. But on the whole it was defiantly worth a read.

dawngarrett's review against another edition

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4.0

More than a little hubris to "review" Paradise Lost. I am glad I listened to it while I followed along reading it ... that kept me going with forward progress and not get bogged down in the details. It would be so easy to want to follow every allusion, seek out every footnote, but for a first reading, just reading was exactly what I needed. Now I can dip in and out and seek out more and why Milton wrote the things he wrote.

I do have concerns with "fictionalizing" scripture and things hid from or not elaborated in scripture. At times, I was a little put off/taken aback by his portrayal of Eve, it felt ... condescending and patronizing.

Overall, though, I enjoyed reading this. I really liked reading it alongside Lewis' Space Trilogy. I feel like the end of Perelandra took many cues from Paradise Lost. There were so many connections I made as I read.

I enjoyed the Simon Vance audio from Audible. I haven't yet read Paradise Regained as it wasn't on the audiobook.

loqualityenergy's review against another edition

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4.0

I first read this in high school and couldn't really get into it. Upon reading it again twice in college, I realized how beautiful a poem Milton has written (and all while blind. Props to his stenographer daughter). The classical epic characteristics combine with Christianity to create such a beautiful work. The creation of character is especially interesting, particuarly as concerns the women Eve and Sin.

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