The most difficult text I have read so far, but so rewarding for all its tumult. I read this solely for it to enrich my student of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and found the parallels seen in Adam and Satan to both Victor and his Creature incredibly interesting. Milton’s characterisation of Satan was deeply intriguing and bore many an incredible line; I can see why the Romantics (especially my dear Lord Byron) made him into a subversively heroic figure. However, I found the complexity of Milton’s portrayal of Eve equally fascinating towards seeing the extent of systematic oppression faced by women in the era, especially when Milton was considered a progressive in his time. Milton’s text had so many echoes of Shakespeare which made it fun to ponder over alongside an Othello essay I have been writing alongside. Whilst the style was difficult, I read 100 pages a day, and got through some tougher passages with the promise of reading more of Ted Hughes’ poems interspersed. I very much recommend.