Customer Reviews

Paradise Lost (2nd Edition)

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_Paradise Lost_ will of course continue to be reproduced, but the content will essentially remain the same. The question is which of the countless number of editions to purchase. Fowler's editing and copious yet useful annotations are first rate for any single edition of PL. Though most publishers treat epic poetry as though it were pulp-fiction, Longman dignifies this volume in binding better than most hardcovers, for they have sewn its acid-free leaves in signatures. It is simply beautiful, and it is simply the best edition if one wants to study Milton's epic carefully.

I am writing this because the five other reviews are about Paradise Lost, not about Alistair Fowler's edition of Paradise Lost. If you just want to read Paradise Lost, you do not need to pay $45.00 to do so. Most modern editions will have enough notes to get you through, and you can easily find inexpensive copies of such editions.

This one is quite a bit more thorough than that, and it is worth the money if you are someone who spends a lot of time in the notes. It's also very well bound, by the way -- the book is designed to take a lot of abuse.

It's a big, fat, heavy tome, and the notes often take up more space on the page than the poem does. An excellent resource for Milton fans -- probably a must-have for Milton fans -- but not the sort of thing most readers really need.

To be honest, I have never a big fan of poetry, but John Milton's epic changed that. I only decided to read this book after religion(and anti-religion) discussions started to heat up in my school. When I read Paradise Lost, I quickly stopped thinking of it as a poem, but as an epic of astronomical proportions that identifies many truths about humanity. The reading can be rather difficult at times, but with Alastair Fowler's wonderful annotations, it is possible for readers of any level to comprehend and enjoy Paradise Lost.

Milton's sympathetic view of Lucifer in his rebellion against heaven is very insightful and compelling. I loved this poem, but I would only recommend it to readers of a slightly older age, as you have to be able to understand his blank verse writing to fully enjoy this epic.

many would argue this is correct, many prove themselves ignorant while trying to prove otherwise. this is a work of the ages; it contains an understanding that surpasses "eloquence". its subtle vision could only have come to a mind like Milton's, whose lack of physical vision helped him gain a keen insight into the mysteries of man. though there are many who will never understand this monumental masterpiece, Milton's Paradise Lost will continue to be read by intelligent inquisitors for ages to come. Fowler's annotations are lengthy and help to build Milton's image of our fall piece by piece. this is an excellent annotated version of (what i would argue is) the best work of literature ever written in any language (sorry shakespeare fans)...

I loved this poem....I tell you I was rooting for Satan all the way...

its long and boring. i would never reccomend this book. it has no eloquence or anything, just words. anyone could've written that book. its impossible to understand. what type of book would make it self so hard to understand, so slow to read. thats not a good book, in my opinion. i digress.