Paradise Lost
by John Milton
First published 1667 · 333 pages · about 6 hours to read
Read free on Project Gutenberg · Find in a library
About this book
John Milton's Paradise Lost is one of the greatest epic poems in the English language. It tells the story of the Fall of Man, a tale of immense drama and excitement, of rebellion and treachery, of innocence pitted against corruption, in which God and Satan fight a bitter battle for control of mankind's destiny. The struggle rages across three worlds - heaven, hell, and earth - as Satan and his band of rebel angels plot their revenge against God. At the center of the conflict are Adam and Eve, who are motivated by all too human temptations but whose ultimate downfall is unyielding love.
Marked by Milton's characteristic erudition, Paradise Lost is a work epic both in scale and, notoriously, in ambition. For nearly 350 years, it has held generation upon generation of audiences in rapt attention, and its profound influence can be seen in almost every corner of Western culture.
Quotes
“Say first, for Heav’n hides nothing from thy view Nor the deep Tract of Hell, say first what cause Mov’d our Grand Parents in that happy State, Favour’d of Heav’n so highly, to fall off From their Creator, and transgress his Will For one restraint, Lords of the World besides?”
Book I “What though the field be lost? All is not lost; the unconquerable Will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome?”
Book I “What matter where, if I be still the same, And what I should be, all but less then hee Whom Thunder hath made greater?”
Book I
Passages chosen with AI from the book's public-domain text on Project Gutenberg.
Books like Paradise Lost
More by John Milton
- The Poetical Works of John MiltonThe Poetical Works of John Milton1804
- Samson AgonistesSamson Agonistes1758
- ComusComus1738
- Paradise Regain'dParadise Regain'd1671
- SonnetsSonnets1645
- AreopagiticaAreopagitica1644