John Milton was a 17th Century English poet. He is considered one of greatest of the English poets ever. His major work is said to be Paradise Lost. It is an epic poem written in blank verse and consists depending on the edition either 10 books or twelve.
The poem revolves around the Fall of Man as depicted in the Old Testament. He goes into great detail about the temptation of Adam and Eve by Satan and their eventual expulsion from the Garden of Eden. As set out in Book One, Milton’s purpose is to justify God’s ways to mankind. It is above all a poem about civil war. At the same time, it is perhaps the best Christian morality tale ever written to date.
This epic was published on August 20, 1167.
Milton’s Paradise Lost, Book Four may be read here:
http://www.bartleby.com/4/404.html
Or listened to in an audiobook format here:
ALOHA PROMISES FOREVER 