Customer Reviews

Lucifer (Absolute Classics)

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Vondel published this work decades before Milton published Paradise Lost. Granted Paradise Lost is an important treasure of English literature, it is a shame that has completely overshadowed Vondel's work to the point that encyclopedias about angels glorify what Milton did in Paradise Lost but never mention Vondel at all.

Like Milton, Vondel wrote about the fall of Lucifer. However, unlike Milton, who wrote his story as a poetic epic, Vondel wrote his version as a play. And as a play, the story is told with the limitations of the stage. HOWEVER, also unlike Milton, Vondel wrote his version from a more orthodox point of view, ground more in with traditional Biblical theology. Milton's work is saturated with heretical Arian ideas and sometimes flat out contradicts what little Biblical tradition that we have on this subject. In addition, Milton portrays his angels more as idiots, being easily deceived by Satan. However, even with the time limitations of a play, Vondel does do justice to all of the angels, rebel and loyalist. My personal favorite moment of this play is the debate between rebel and loyalist angels in Act 3. They way their argument was written was quick, and reading it made it feel like you were reading an actual argument.

I can only imagine what it would be like to read this play in its original Dutch! As a translator, Clark did an excellent job of translating this work into a form of poetic English reminiscent of simplified Shakespearean prose.

Again, as a play, this is a great piece of fiction. However, if you want to read a version of this story in the form of an epic, read Milton. I personally say you should read both.