I’m glad I listened to this as an audiobook. I began reading an e-copy directly after finishing Book 1, because it obviously needs more attention than I could give only the auditory version. The extra-biblical portions were much more difficult to follow as I’m not familiar with the material. Milton was obviously a student of the renaissance and alluded to many cultures, religions, and places one needs to have or acquire background knowledge for before fully entering into the worlds Milton has created.