Paradise Lost: A New Translation in Modern Accessible English

by John Milton, David Petault (introduction)

In 1667, John Milton—blind, aging, politically disgraced after the collapse of England's republican revolution—completed Paradise Lost. He'd spent years defending regicide and press freedom; when the Restoration brought monarchy back, his political project ended catastrophically. He turned to poetry and produced an epic explaining humanity's first why an omnipotent, benevolent God would permit the Fall.

The poem creates a cosmos of extraordinary imaginative Hell as "darkness visible," Heaven with its angelic hierarchies, Eden before the Fall rendered with sensuous detail. Satan possesses psychological depth that makes him literature's most compelling villain—fallen angel who chose rebellion over submission, who declares "Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven." His magnificent defiance in early books systematically degrades until by Book IX he's reduced to serpent crawling on his belly.

The central is Satan the hero? Romantic poets thought so—Blake claimed Milton was "of the Devil's party without knowing it." Yet careful reading reveals Milton's Satan's soliloquies expose not heroic defiance but psychological torture, inability to repent, envy driving him to destroy what he cannot enjoy.

The Fall itself is psychological Satan tempting Eve through flattery and rationalization, her extended deliberation weighing his arguments, Adam choosing to eat knowing it's disobedience, unable to imagine existence without her. The consequences unfold across Books shame, guilt, lust corrupting their previous innocent sexuality, mutual recrimination, nature itself falling with humanity, God's judgment, expulsion from Eden. Yet the poem doesn't end in pure tragedy—it concludes with loss but also qualified hope, "Providence their guide."

Milton's blank verse—unrhymed iambic pentameter with elaborate Latinate syntax—was revolutionary. Single sentences extend for dozens of lines, syntax deliberately complex, enacting Satan's speeches wind through justifications mirroring his psychological contortions; Adam and Eve's language becomes confused after the Fall, reflecting spiritual disorder.

A Note on This Edition

This presents what might be called "modernization" rather than translation. This requires acknowledging what's Milton's rhythms, his syntactic architecture, his learned vocabulary cannot be simplified without fundamental transformation. What modernization offers is access to narrative and themes for readers who find seventeenth-century English insurmountable.

Yet anyone seriously interested in Milton should ultimately encounter the original. Paradise Lost is language achievement where meaning and form are inseparable. The grandeur readers have found for three and a half centuries resides in Milton's actual verse, not paraphrasable content.

This edition can serve as introduction or companion. But it's substitute for, not equivalent to, Milton's poem—which deserves the effort it requires.

Genres: Fiction

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2024

About the author

People best know John Milton, English scholar, for Paradise Lost , the epic poem of 1667 and an account of fall of humanity from grace.

Beelzebub, one fallen angel in Paradise Lost, of John Milton, lay in power next to Satan.

Belial, one fallen angel, rebelled against God in Paradise Lost of John Milton.


John Milton, polemicist, man of letters, served the civil Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote in blank verse at a time of religious flux and political upheaval.

Prose of John Milton reflects deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self-determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day. He wrote in Latin, Greek, and Italian and achieved international renown within his lifetime, and his celebrated Areopagitica (1644) in condemnation of censorship before publication among most influential and impassioned defenses of free speech and the press of history.

William Hayley in biography of 1796 called and generally regarded John Milton, the "greatest ... author," "as one of the preeminent writers in the ... language," though since his death, critical reception oscillated often on his republicanism in the centuries. Samuel Johnson praised, "with respect to design may claim the first place, and with respect to performance, the second, among the productions of the ... mind," though he, a Tory and recipient of royal patronage, described politics of Milton, an "acrimonious and surly republican."

Because of his republicanism, centuries of British partisanship subjected John Milton.

Reviews

[Steve Croft · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was really hard work, even as a modern translation. 400 pages of prose, which, because of the updated translation, didnt have much rhyme or rhythm. I was determined to finish though, and did.

I think there are 3 reasons someone would read this extremely famous book.
1. To hear the story and theology
2. To enjoy the poetic writing/prose
3. To tick the box (Very famous classic)

I read it for 1, but found the prose so hard to follow, I got lost a fair bit. Nevertheless, the story is amazing. I will be looking for a modern take on the story that ditches the excruciating verse.

[Douglas Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic redition

Modern language, easy to read and understand. Words in visual form places you at the scene. Reading up to the point of the great sin, I was moved and in anguish, knowing the outcome, hoping she'd reject and realize the devil was before her. It went down as it should.. and as it does on a daily basis, throughout time. God is Good and righteous! Jesus is Lord of Lords! Praise God in the Highest! Amen

[Sanjay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal poetry - his grasp of the Biblical storyline and theology is unmatched.

[Kaleb Grimes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning is 5 stars but really slows down halfway through the book.