Paradise Lost
by John Milton
Paradise Lost (1667) remains one of the cornerstones of English literature. Milton's stated purpose for writing the epic poem was "to justify the existence of God and man." No wonder it took ten books with over ten thousand lines of verse. More incredible still, Milton was completely blind when he composed it. [Published here as a book, rather than as a poem, to allow readers to study its verses, one book at a time. Engravings by Gustave Dore, 1866]
Featured in our collection, Poetry for the Well-Read Student
Need a study break? You might enjoy how Mark Twain portrays God, man, woman, and original sin in his short stories: Eve's Diary and Extracts from Adam's Diary
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