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John Milton

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John Milton (1608-1674), English poet, famous for his Epic work Paradise Lost (1667).

Milton was born in London on December 9, 1609 as the son of a wealthy notary. He was educated at St. Paul's School. Milton received a Masters degree from Cambridge University in 1632. In 1638, he undertook a European tour where he met many of the major thinkers of the day, especially in Italy.

On his return to England, Milton became a Puritan, and an opponent of the Catholics and of the Stuarts. He was also an ardent polemicist, a follower of Cromwell, and the latter's foreign language secretary. In 1652 he became completely blind. His first wife died in 1652 and he remarried in 1656.

After the restoration of the Stuarts he suffered considerable persecution. He withdrew from active participation in politics and concentrated on his poetry. Paradise Lost was published in 1667, followed by Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes in 1671. Among other popular works by Milton are the elegy "Lycidas", Comus , a masque, and the companion pieces "L'Allegro" and "Il Penseroso."

Milton died in London on November 12, 1674.

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• Fiction

  • Paradise Lost
  • Paradise Regained

• Poetry

  • An Epitaph on the Admirable Dramatic Poet W. Shakespeare
  • At a Solemn Music
  • Il Penseroso
  • L'Allegro
  • Lycidas
  • On the Morning of Christ's Nativity
  • On Time
  • The Hymn