Difference between revisions of "Paradise Lost"
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|link=https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/Record/3466126 | |link=https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/Record/3466126 | ||
|shorttitle=Paradise Lost: A Poem, in Twelve Books | |shorttitle=Paradise Lost: A Poem, in Twelve Books | ||
| + | |commontitle=Paradise Lost | ||
|author=John Milton | |author=John Milton | ||
|publoc=Birmingham | |publoc=Birmingham | ||
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|pages=[33], 416 p. | |pages=[33], 416 p. | ||
|desc=8vo (24 cm.) | |desc=8vo (24 cm.) | ||
| − | }}[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Milton John Milton] (1608-1674), was an English poet and polemicist best known for his canonical epic poem Paradise Lost.<ref> Gordon Campbell, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/18800 “Milton, John (1608–1674)”], ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (Oxford University Press, 2004), accessed September 26, 2013. All biographical details are from this source unless otherwise noted.</ref> In 1639, Milton published five anti-prelatical pamphlets that criticize the governance of the Church. With the dissolution of his first marriage in 1642, he began to write extensively on divorce, saying that the breakdown of a marriage should constitute grounds for divorce.<ref> W.P. Trent, “John Milton”, ''The Sewanee Review'', 5, no. 1 (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1897), pp. 8-9.</ref><br/> | + | }}[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Milton John Milton] (1608-1674), was an English poet and polemicist best known for his canonical epic poem ''Paradise Lost''.<ref> Gordon Campbell, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/18800 “Milton, John (1608–1674)”], ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (Oxford University Press, 2004), accessed September 26, 2013. All biographical details are from this source unless otherwise noted.</ref> In 1639, Milton published five anti-prelatical pamphlets that criticize the governance of the Church. With the dissolution of his first marriage in 1642, he began to write extensively on divorce, saying that the breakdown of a marriage should constitute grounds for divorce.<ref> W.P. Trent, “John Milton”, ''The Sewanee Review'', 5, no. 1 (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1897), pp. 8-9.</ref><br/> |
<br/> | <br/> | ||
| − | + | Milton’s career from 1641-74 fluctuated from a focus on poetry, political and religious criticisms, and histories. Milton’s political writings from 1649-55 are marked by his disbelief of the divine right of kings, his advocacy for a more republican government, and his controversial defense of regicide that made him infamous across Europe. He also wrote a formidable proposal for the reformation of the English education system<ref> Pauline Lacy Smith, “John Milton as an Educator,” ‘’Peabody Journal of Education’’, 23, no. 3 (Taylor & Francis, Ltd., Nov. 1945), p. 173.</ref>, treatises on the importance of free press, and a treatise against the use of tithes. Milton became permanently blind in 1652<ref>W.H. Wilmer, “The Blindness of Milton,” ''The Journal of English and Germanic Philology'', 32, no. 3 (University of Illinois Press, Jul. 1993,), p. 308.</ref>; he began to dictate his writing.<br/> | |
| − | Milton’s career from 1641-74 fluctuated from a focus on poetry, political and religious criticisms, and histories. Milton’s political writings from 1649-55 are marked by his disbelief of divine right of kings, his advocacy for a more republican government, and his controversial defense of regicide that made him infamous across Europe. He also wrote a formidable proposal for the reformation of the English education system<ref> Pauline Lacy Smith, “John Milton as an Educator,” ‘’Peabody Journal of Education’’, 23, no. 3 (Taylor & Francis, Ltd., Nov. 1945), p. 173.</ref>, treatises on the importance of free press, and a treatise against the use of tithes. Milton became permanently blind in 1652<ref>W.H. Wilmer, “The Blindness of Milton,” ''The Journal of English and Germanic Philology'', 32, no. 3 (University of Illinois Press, Jul. 1993,), p. 308.</ref>; he began to dictate his writing.<br/> | ||
<br/> | <br/> | ||
| − | |||
After the restoration of Charles II in 1660, Milton went into hiding; his books were ordered burnt and he was imprisoned in the Tower. Milton dictated ''Paradise Lost'' from around 1658-63, but was interrupted by these tumultuous incidents. His portrayal of man’s susceptibility to the evils of Satan mirrors his views of the failure of the Commonwealth and the restoration of monarchy.<ref>Joan Webber, “Milton’s God,” ''ELH'', 40, no. 4 (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1973), p. 518.</ref> The poem is the great English epic; more than this political allegory, the poem presents a shockingly humanized depiction of God, Satan, and Adam and Eve.<br/> | After the restoration of Charles II in 1660, Milton went into hiding; his books were ordered burnt and he was imprisoned in the Tower. Milton dictated ''Paradise Lost'' from around 1658-63, but was interrupted by these tumultuous incidents. His portrayal of man’s susceptibility to the evils of Satan mirrors his views of the failure of the Commonwealth and the restoration of monarchy.<ref>Joan Webber, “Milton’s God,” ''ELH'', 40, no. 4 (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1973), p. 518.</ref> The poem is the great English epic; more than this political allegory, the poem presents a shockingly humanized depiction of God, Satan, and Adam and Eve.<br/> | ||
<br/> | <br/> | ||
| − | + | ''Paradise Regained'' was published in 1671, and depicts the “temptations of Jesus in the desert” in an unsentimental way. ''Samson Agonistes'' was published along with this work, but it is unclear when Milton wrote this drama. It is a play modeled after Greek dramas with clear autobiographical undertones<ref>Smith, p. 172.</ref>, and a modern characterization of Samson as a man struggling to find divine influences in his life. | |
| − | ''Paradise Regained'' was published in 1671, and depicts the “temptations of Jesus in the desert” in an unsentimental way. ''Samson Agonistes'' was published along with this work, but it is unclear when Milton wrote this drama. It is a play modeled after Greek dramas with clear autobiographical undertones<ref> Smith, p. 172.</ref>, and a modern characterization of Samson as a man struggling to find divine influences in his life. | ||
==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library== | ==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library== | ||
| − | + | Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as "Milton’s Paradise lost & regained. Baskerville. 2.v. 8[vo]." This was one of the titles kept by [[Thomas Jefferson]]. Jefferson sold a Baskerville set of ''Paradise Lost'' and ''Paradise Regain'd'' to the Library of Congress in 1815, but the volumes no longer exist to verify Wythe's prior ownership. Both [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s. v. [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe "Member: George Wythe"], accessed on February 24, 2014.</ref> on LibraryThing and the [https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433 Brown Bibliography]<ref> Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433</ref> include the 1758 set based on Millicent Sowerby's use of that edition in ''Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson''.<ref>E. Millicent Sowerby, ''Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson'', 2nd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), 4:424 [no.4288].</ref> The Wolf Law Library followed Sowerby's recommendation and purchased a copy of the 1758 set for the [[George Wythe Collection]]. | |
==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy== | ==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy== | ||
Bound in contemporary full calf with red and brown lettering labels, gilt. | Bound in contemporary full calf with red and brown lettering labels, gilt. | ||
View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/Record/3466126 William & Mary's online catalog]. | View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/Record/3466126 William & Mary's online catalog]. | ||
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| − | |||
| − | + | ==References== | |
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==External Links== | ||
| + | Read this book in [http://books.google.com/books?id=YmCtYLKc3gIC Google Books]. | ||
[[Category:English Literature]] | [[Category:English Literature]] | ||
[[Category:George Wythe Collection at William & Mary's Wolf Law Library]] | [[Category:George Wythe Collection at William & Mary's Wolf Law Library]] | ||
[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]] | [[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]] | ||
Revision as of 13:45, 24 February 2014
by John Milton
| Paradise Lost | |
 Title page from Paradise Lost: A Poem, in Twelve Books, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary. | |
| Author | John Milton |
| Published | Birmingham: Printed by John Baskerville for J. and R. Tonson in London |
| Date | 1758 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | [33], 416 p. |
| Desc. | 8vo (24 cm.) |
John Milton (1608-1674), was an English poet and polemicist best known for his canonical epic poem Paradise Lost.[1] In 1639, Milton published five anti-prelatical pamphlets that criticize the governance of the Church. With the dissolution of his first marriage in 1642, he began to write extensively on divorce, saying that the breakdown of a marriage should constitute grounds for divorce.[2]
Milton’s career from 1641-74 fluctuated from a focus on poetry, political and religious criticisms, and histories. Milton’s political writings from 1649-55 are marked by his disbelief of the divine right of kings, his advocacy for a more republican government, and his controversial defense of regicide that made him infamous across Europe. He also wrote a formidable proposal for the reformation of the English education system[3], treatises on the importance of free press, and a treatise against the use of tithes. Milton became permanently blind in 1652[4]; he began to dictate his writing.
After the restoration of Charles II in 1660, Milton went into hiding; his books were ordered burnt and he was imprisoned in the Tower. Milton dictated Paradise Lost from around 1658-63, but was interrupted by these tumultuous incidents. His portrayal of man’s susceptibility to the evils of Satan mirrors his views of the failure of the Commonwealth and the restoration of monarchy.[5] The poem is the great English epic; more than this political allegory, the poem presents a shockingly humanized depiction of God, Satan, and Adam and Eve.
Paradise Regained was published in 1671, and depicts the “temptations of Jesus in the desert” in an unsentimental way. Samson Agonistes was published along with this work, but it is unclear when Milton wrote this drama. It is a play modeled after Greek dramas with clear autobiographical undertones[6], and a modern characterization of Samson as a man struggling to find divine influences in his life.
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as "Milton’s Paradise lost & regained. Baskerville. 2.v. 8[vo]." This was one of the titles kept by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson sold a Baskerville set of Paradise Lost and Paradise Regain'd to the Library of Congress in 1815, but the volumes no longer exist to verify Wythe's prior ownership. Both George Wythe's Library[7] on LibraryThing and the Brown Bibliography[8] include the 1758 set based on Millicent Sowerby's use of that edition in Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson.[9] The Wolf Law Library followed Sowerby's recommendation and purchased a copy of the 1758 set for the George Wythe Collection.
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in contemporary full calf with red and brown lettering labels, gilt.
View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.
References
- ↑ Gordon Campbell, “Milton, John (1608–1674)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004), accessed September 26, 2013. All biographical details are from this source unless otherwise noted.
- ↑ W.P. Trent, “John Milton”, The Sewanee Review, 5, no. 1 (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1897), pp. 8-9.
- ↑ Pauline Lacy Smith, “John Milton as an Educator,” ‘’Peabody Journal of Education’’, 23, no. 3 (Taylor & Francis, Ltd., Nov. 1945), p. 173.
- ↑ W.H. Wilmer, “The Blindness of Milton,” The Journal of English and Germanic Philology, 32, no. 3 (University of Illinois Press, Jul. 1993,), p. 308.
- ↑ Joan Webber, “Milton’s God,” ELH, 40, no. 4 (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1973), p. 518.
- ↑ Smith, p. 172.
- ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe", accessed on February 24, 2014.
- ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433
- ↑ E. Millicent Sowerby, Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 2nd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), 4:424 [no.4288].
External Links
Read this book in Google Books.
