Product Description

First published in 1968, Alastair Fowler's annotated edition of Paradise Lost is acknowledged as the most authoritative guide to this major work. It is the only recent edition of Paradise Lost to be based on the text of the first (1667) edition, now widely accepted to be closer to Milton's intention than that of 1674.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25812 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 744 pages

Review

"…a monument of scholarship, but also a book accessible to any lover of poetry… It's reincarnation is something to be celebrated".
John Mullan, The Guardian

‘This is a very Bible of Milton, and the editors should be upheld forever as the supreme example to all future editors and annotators of English verse’
Selina Hastings, The Daily Telegraph

"Those familiar with the complexities and indecisions of Milton scholarship know how formidable a task it is to prepare an adequately annotated edition of the poems. Mr Carey & Mr Fowler have tackled the task with zest and discrimination as well as perseverance. For several years to come their work will be indispensable to both scholars and students.”
Times Literary Supplement

"For forty years Fowler's magisterial edition of Milton (done in partnership with John Carey) has established the benchmark for erudite commentary in his (and Greenblatt's) field."                                                                                                                         John Sutherland, The Guardian

"To be honest, I have never a big fan of poetry, but John Milton's epic changed that...The reading can be rather difficult at times, but with Alastair Fowler's wonderful annotations, it is possible for readers of any level to comprehend and enjoy Paradise Lost."

Amazon.co.uk review

"Fowler's editing and copious yet useful annotations are first rate for any single edition of Paradise Lost. “

Amazon.co.uk review

Poem of the Week - The Guardian November 24 2006

From the Back Cover

Milton's Paradise Lost is one of the great works of literature, of any time and in any language. Marked by Milton's characteristic erudition it is a work epic both in scale and, notoriously, in ambition. For nearly 350 years it has held generation upon generation of scholars, students and readers in rapt attention and its profound influence can be seen in almost every corner of Western culture. First published in 1968, with John Carey's Complete Shorter Poems, Alastair Fowler's Paradise Lost is widely acknowledged to be the most authoritative edition of this compelling work.

An unprecedented amount of detailed annotation accompanies the full text of the first (1667) edition, providing a wealth of contextual information to enrich and enhance the reader's experience. Notes on composition and context are combined with a clear explication of the multitude allusions Milton called to the poem's aid. The notes also summarise and illuminate the vast body of critical attention the poem has attracted, synthesizing the ancient and the modern to provide a comprehensive account both of the poem's development and its reception. Meanwhile, Alastair Fowler's invigorating introduction surveys the whole poem and looks in detail at such  matters as Milton's theology, metrical structure and, most valuably, his complex and imaginary astronomy. The result is an enduring landmark in the field of Milton scholarship and an invaluable guide for readers of all levels.

Alastair Fowler is Regius Professor Emeritus of Rhetoric and English Literature at the University of Edinburgh, and was formerly Professor of English at the University of Virginia, USA. 

About the Author

Professor Alastair Fowler is Regius Professor Emeritus of Rhetoric and English Literature, Universityof Edinburgh.

Customer Reviews

Paradise Lost Regained!
Milton - as his daughters, who were made to transcribe his epic writings when his sight began to fail, would probably agree - is an awkward, demanding and challenging poet. His masterpiece, Paradise Lost, is prodigious in so many ways: it is ambitious, arrogant, learned, allusive and elusive. It is also quite breathtaking, a joy to read and a marvel when you actually understand it. And it is the understanding that can prove a stumbling block to the modern reader. Milton knew a lot of stuff that 'we' simply don't have a clue about; he made references to things that 'we' know in only the most hazy fashion. That's where this edition, edited by Alastair Fowler, comes in. It fills in the gaps in our collective knowledge and allows us to come to our own understanding of the magnificence of the poem. Reading this edition gives the poem extraordinary resonance: it's almost like sitting on the poet's shoulder, listening to his brain tick over. I can't recommend it highly enough, in fact, to paraphrase somebody or other, I think it is safe to say that you haven't read Paradise Lost, if you haven't read Fowler.

Simply beautiful!
_Paradise Lost_ will of course continue to be reproduced, but the content will essentially stay the same. The question is which of the countless number of editions to purchase. Fowler's editing and copious yet useful annotations are first rate for any single edition of PL. Though most publishers treat epic poetry as though it were pulp-fiction, Longman has dignified this volume with paper that is acid-free and binding that is better than most hardcovers as it is stiched in signatures. It is simply beautiful, and it is simply the best edition if one wants to study Milton's epic carefully.

Fantastic!
If you're serious about Milton, this is the best edition of Paradise Lost to equip yourself with, whether for home study or for academic purposes. The annotations offered in this edition are truly superb - ranging from social and historical contexts and themes, to the significance of Milton't other works and similarities/contrasts in other sections of Paradise Lost. I thought this was an extremely helpful edition and without it I would never have enjoyed Paradise Lost as much as I do - it made my whole experience of reading Milton's epic so much more rewarding. Initially I was only fascinated with the first 6 or 7 Books of Paradise Lost, but with the Longman Annotated edition I re-read the whole epic and it was wonderful to spot the various contrasts and similarities weaved in throughout the entire text. A definite eye opener!