' Of man's first disobedience & the fruit Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste Brought death into the world Sing heavenly muse' From almost the moment of its first publication in 1667 Paradise Lost was considered a classic It is difficult now to appreciate both how audacious an undertaking it represents & how astonishing its immediate & continued success was Over the course of twelve books Milton wrote an epic poem that would 'justify the ways of God to men' a mission that required a complex drama whose source is both historical & deeply personal The struggle for ascendancy between God & Satan is played out across hell heaven & earth but the consequences of the Fall are all too humanly tragic
- pride ambition & aspiration the motivating forces In this new edition derived from their acclaimed Oxford Authors text Stephen Orgel & Jonathan Goldberg discuss the complexity of Milton's poem in a new introduction & on-page notes explain its language & allusions ABOUT THE SERIES For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features including expert introductions by leading authorities helpful notes to clarify the text up-to-date bibliographies for further study & much more