John Milton: Life, Work, and Legacy

This magnificent biography, written by two of the world's leading Milton scholars, sheds fresh new light on the writings, the thought, and the life of poet John Milton. Widely praised as "illuminating" (Times Literary Supplement), "seamlessly written" (Publishers Weekly), and "a book of permanent value" (Literary Review), the book has also won the Milton Society's James Holly Hanford Award.

In these pages, a more human Milton emerges, one who is flawed, self-contradictory, self-serving, arrogant, passionate, ruthless, ambitious, and cunning. Milton is also revealed as one of the most accomplished writers of the period, the most eloquent polemicist of the mid-century, and the author of the finest and most influential narrative poem in English, Paradise Lost, which the book examines in detail.

The book profoundly challenges the received wisdom about one of England's leading poets and thinkers, exploring the wondrous achievements of Milton in the face of crippling adversity, blindness, bereavement, and political eclipse. This is the first new serious study of Milton's life and work in forty years, offering a fascinating biography of this towering literary figure.

The authors' deep understanding of Milton's life and works, combined with their seamless writing and illuminating insights, make this biography a must-read for anyone interested in one of the most important figures in English literature. The book's examination of Paradise Lost, Milton's magnum opus, is particularly notable, shedding new light on the depth and complexity of this influential narrative poem.

Overall, this biography provides a comprehensive and engaging portrait of John Milton, challenging the conventional narratives and offering a more nuanced and human understanding of this exceptional writer and thinker. The book's recognition through the prestigious James Holly Hanford Award further underscores its significance and value for scholars and general readers alike.

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