Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost,an epic poem by Milton , originally in ten books, subsequently rearranged in 12, first printed 1667 .
Milton formed the intention of writing a great epic poem, as he tells us, as early as 1639 . A list of possible subjects, some of them scriptural, some from British history, written in his own hand about 1640 – 1 , still exists, with drafts of the scheme of a poem on ‘Paradise Lost’. The work was not, however, begun in earnest until 1658 , and it was finished, according to Aubrey , in 1663 . It was licensed for publication by the Revd Thomas Tomkyns , chaplain to the archbishop of Canterbury. Milton entered into an agreement for the copyright with Samuel Simmons by which he received £5 down, and a further £5 when the first impression of 1,300 copies was exhausted. His widow subsequently parted with all further claims for the sum of £8.
Milton added to later copies of the first edition...
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