Milton's Selected Poetry and Prose: A Norton Critical Edition

This Norton Critical Edition of Milton's Selected Poetry and Prose presents the major poetic (excluding Paradise Lost) and prose works, along with supporting materials necessary for in-depth study. Together with the Norton Critical Edition of Paradise Lost (ed. Gordon Teskey, 2005), it serves as the essential texts for studying the renowned English poet John Milton.

The collection includes the widely acclaimed short poem "Lycidas," considered one of the greatest in the English language, as well as the tragic masterpiece Samson Agonistes, the masque Comus, the brief epic Paradise Regained, and eighteen sonnets alongside other poems. Additionally, it contains the complete text of five of Milton's major prose works, including the influential Areopagitica and The Doctrine of Discipline and Divorce.

Each major work is accompanied by an individual introduction and ample explanatory annotations to aid the reader's understanding. The volume also includes the major biblical sources that inspired Milton's writing, alongside fourteen scholarly interpretations of the primary texts. From the wealth of commentary on Milton's poetry and prose, the editor has carefully selected works that can be readily studied and appreciated by a wide range of readers, including essays that are well-suited for classroom discussion.

The contributors to this critical edition comprise a distinguished group of scholars, including Anthony Hecht, William Kerrigan, Mary Nyquist, Stanley Fish, Barbara K. Lewalski, John Carey, and Sharon Achinstein, among others. A Chronology and Selected Bibliography are also provided to further enhance the reader's engagement with Milton's life and works.

This Norton Critical Edition of Milton's Selected Poetry and Prose serves as the essential resource for in-depth exploration and study of the renowned English poet's major poetic and prose works. By presenting the texts alongside critical analyses and supporting materials, it offers a comprehensive and accessible approach to understanding the depth and complexity of Milton's literary legacy.

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