John Milton's vocation was that of a great poet, but he stood on the field of ecclesiastical and political controversy throughout his writing career. Milton's Poetry of Independence examines patterns of ecclesiological and affective imagery in five poems by Milton. The book shows how Milton's ecclesiastical nonconformity, his Puritan Independency, had important uses in his poetic art.

"Offers new readings of Milton's major works, including Areopagitica, Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson Agonistes, highlighting how Milton shifts the parlance of freedom and liberty from the arena of civic order to that of the individual conscience engaged in the process of choosing; this, in turn, invites readers to consider alternatives even to Milton's own positions"--

John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for theCommonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote at a time of religious flux and political upheaval, and is best known for his epic poemParadise Lost.Milton's poetry and prose reflect deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day. Writing in English, Latin, and Italian, he achieved international renown within his lifetime, and his celebrated Areopagitica,(written in condemnation of pre-publication censorship) is among history's most influential and impassioned defenses of free speech and freedom of the press.-wikipedia

John Milton (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet, polemicist, man of letters, and civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote at a time of religious flux and political upheaval, and is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost (1667), written in blank verse. Milton's poetry and prose reflect deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self-determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day. Writing in English, Latin, Greek, and Italian, he achieved international renown within his lifetime, and his celebrated Areopagitica (1644), written in condemnation of pre-publication censorship, is among history's most influential and impassioned defences of free speech and freedom of the press. William Hayley's 1796 biography called him the "greatest English author," and he remains generally regarded "as one of the preeminent writers in the English language," though critical reception has oscillated in the centuries since his death (often on account of his republicanism). Samuel Johnson praised Paradise Lost as "a poem which...with respect to design may claim the first place, and with respect to performance, the second, among the productions of the human mind," though he (a Tory and recipient of royal patronage) described Milton's politics as those of an "acrimonious and surly republican." Odin's Library Classics is dedicated to bringing the world the best of humankind's literature from throughout the ages. Carefully selected, each work is unabridged from classic works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama.

John Milton's works of verse are united in this superb collection, which traverses the poet's early life and formative education, his rise to poetic prominence, and his later epics including the masterpiece Paradise Lost. One of the most celebrated poets to have ever used the English language, John Milton's influence upon poets and authors over subsequent centuries cannot be underestimated. His most famous poetic work, Paradise Lost, was lauded even by those opposed to Milton's political views both for its vivid performance value, and for its cerebral depths of rich meaning. Arranged chronologically, this collection allows the reader to observe John Milton from his student days. The first of the poems in this anthology are collected from when Milton was aged only fifteen, dating shortly prior to his commencement of study at Christ's College, Cambridge. By all accounts ravenous for study and knowledge, the young Milton's voracity led him to eventually disdain the university curriculum and the stage performances of his fellow students. Not contented with his formal Masters qualification, Milton would commit himself to private study for some six years after graduating. Accordingly the second part of this compendium features poems from this period; it was at this time that Milton began to enjoy public recognition, with works such as Arcades (1633) read and praised by members of the nobility. Amid the upheaval of the English Civil War, Milton continued to write; gradually, as he encountered trouble with the censorious climate of the era, his writing became more politically charged. It was in the midst of the military conflict that John Milton famously called for an end to censorship in his Areopagitica, passionately arguing for free speech for writers. A staunch supporter of Oliver Cromwell, it was Milton's efforts that saw reforms enacted. His poetic output during the war gave way to political pamphlets and essays, which opposed the suppression of speech and advocated for a permanent abolition of the English monarchy. It was only following this period of social upheaval that, as a mature man, Milton resumed his original love of verse. Despite falling victim to failing eyesight which culminated in his blindness in 1660, Milton would dictate his epic poems to his assistants. It was during this final, mature period that the finest works associated with John Milton were produced: Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson Agonistes. Together, these works sealed his reputation as a great artist for all time.

John Milton (1608 - 1674) was an English poet, polemicist, man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote at a time of religious flux and political upheaval, and is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost (1667), written in blank verse. Milton's poetry and prose reflect deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self-determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day. Writing in English, Latin, Greek, and Italian, he achieved international renown within his lifetime, and his celebrated Areopagitica (1644)-written in condemnation of pre-publication censorship-is among history's most influential and impassioned defences of free speech and freedom of the press. In this book: Paradise Lost Paradise Regained L'Allegro, Il Penseroso, Comus, and Lycidas Samson agonistes