My Collection

Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton (1608–1674). The first version, published in 1667, consists of ten books with over ten thousand lines of verse. A second edition followed in 1674, arranged into twelve books (in the manner of Virgil's Aeneid) with minor revisions throughout. It is considered to be Milton's masterpiece, and it helped solidify his reputation as one of the greatest English poets of his time. The poem concerns the biblical story of the Fall of Man: the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

---

This is the dream, not the actual first edition (although I'd love that too), but the first illustrated edition
John Milton, Paradise Lost. London: Printed by Miles Flesher for Richard Bentley, 1688. De Beer Ec 1688 M

Here I've recorded my collection of different editions of Paradise Lost - modest for now, but I'm sure it'll grow. If you'd like to contribute to my collection, then feel free to get in touch!

I was tempted to also list all known editions and then mark off editions as I acquired them. However a search of OpenLibrary revealed a list of 313 editions, and I'm not sure if it is complete! I will need a reference list at some stage, but I think I'll leave that for Future Michael to sort out. For now here's a link to said list (Note that it doesn't just cover English editions):

https://openlibrary.org/books/OL20985349M/Paradise_lost?mode=all

A Preface to Paradise Lost by C.S. Lewis

This was a recent discovery for me, and whilst it isn't a copy of the book, it is an excellent accompanying text. I do need to read more similar works, but if you're not familiar with the history and context of Milton's Paradise Lost then this is a great place to start.

It also provides an informative introduction and history of the development of epic poetry. There's also some informative commentary, this won't make a great deal of sense if you haven't read the poem, but even so, it could be worth reading this first.

If anyone has recommendations for other interesting commentaries, essays, or analyses then please add them in the comments below.

Printed and published by Jacob Tonson Edition (1730)

   

As of today (09/09/2022), this is the oldest edition I possess and also my latest purchase. It also has the distinction of the best-wrapped item I have ever received - it was almost a shame to open it! I wish I'd captured an unboxing, I'll make sure to do so the next I purchase a book from here:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheWickedVintageShop?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1136148529

The store description provides a lovely overview:
Hardcover, book bound in full leather but has had some repairs over time to the front and back boards, a linen- type cover patch has been pasted/ glued around the spine to keep it strong- I believe this was done a very long time ago, please see images. Binding good and tight, a little stiff actually, and the black and red title page is missing. All other pages intact! There is a portrait of Milton to the first page. The first ten pages are somewhat decayed and torn and tatty to the edges. A previous owner has inscribed their name to inner front board- as shown. Biography of Milton precedes the poem, written by Elijah Fenton. There are six beautifully illustrated full page engraved plates plus a frontispiece engraving as mentioned. Engravings are signed P. Fourdrinier (20 December 1698 – 18 February 1758).


Printed for J. and H. Richter, by T. Spilsbury Edition (1794)

 

This was my first antique edition I purchased, about 20 years - as such it will forever hold a special place in my collection. It's a hefty, imposing tome with a simple cover, just some elegant lettering to identify the treasure within. It took me a while to convert to a Kindle, but the immense practicality of that device can never compare to feel of holding a book with proper weight and presence in your hands and reading something timeless.

This is the edition I'll use for the AI Illustrated Edition, and as such I will be digitising and transcribing it. I'm not the first to capture this specific edition for prosperity, a full scan can be found here:


 

Paradise Lost by John Milton
Parallel Prose Edition by Dennis Danielson (2008)

 

Although not an antique edition, this is still a remarkable version of Milton's work. I've noted elsewhere that the poem can be a difficult one for modern readers (some little used to modern poetry, let alone from the mid-17th Century) to connect with, and so appreciate. As such they don't get to enjoy the richness of perhaps the Greatest Story Ever Told (TM).

Soon after Paradise Lost's release in 1763, John Wesley noted:
"Of all the poems which have hitherto appeared in the world, in whatever age or nation, the preference has generally been given by impartial judges to Milton's Paradise Lost. But this inimitable work amidst all its beauties is unintelligible to an abundance of readers."
In fairness then, not just modern readers.

Now some people might say that they should push through that, but unless you're a student, scholar, or intensely interested that isn't going to work. Dennis Danielson (a Milton scholar himself) understood this too and set about solving that challenge. 

The result was this clever book, as you read it you see the original poem on the left page, and on the matching right page a prose translation of the poem in a more familiar format. So you could use it it just to read the story, or as a gateway to the poem itself.

Even if you're familiar with Paradise Lost, it's still a damn fine read and worth checking out.

When I first started blogging, about ten years ago, I was fortunate to interview Dennis Danielson:



Paradise Lost & Paradise Regained - Printed For John Sharpe, by C. Whittingham, Chiswick (1817)

This edition I discovered in an antique bookshop down in Lewes, East Sussex (a lovely part of the country), along with a miniature edition that I subsequently (generously or foolishly depending on how you look at it) gave away as part of a charity livestream (it was supporting Special Effect, which is a fantastic cause, so we'll go with generously 👍).

For this specific version I've not been able to find out much yet. I did find this version online which is very similar, but the inlay and some of the printing is different - maybe just the difference between print runs? I did notice that their version and mine were both used for schools. I'm not sure if that's significant, or whether there were versions printed specifically for schools. It is a smaller book than any of my others, so it could have been a cost, but this is all pure speculation on my part. If anyone can enlighten me further then please get in touch.

Here's the online version I found on Scribd:


I did find a version by the same publisher on OpenLibrary but dated as 1818. However, when you examine the scan, the date is 1817, so may be an error uploading. It also looks the same as the Scribd version, so maybe there's a difference between the UK and US prints?


I searched for Paradise Regained separately as the fact that they were sold to me as four volumes doesn't mean they were released that way. Indeed they are labelled as Vol I-II for both books. I found a listing on OpenLibrary, but no scan so I can't properly compare.

After much search I eventually discovered this reference taken from The Kentucky Review:


"It is difficult to sort out the editions listed by Stevens as published by John Sharpe. His No. 121 lists a four-volume edition of ''Milton. Poetical Works in English. Illustrated by Engravings from the Desigs of R. Westall" from 1817; Volumes I and II print Paradise Lost, and Volumes III and IV, Paradise Regain'd, Samson Agonistes, Comus,"Arcades," and Poems on Several Occasions. The King Library has copies of such volumes but without a general title page. Stevens's No. 264, lists an 1817 Poems on Several Occasions, bound with Paradise Regain'd, 1817; this seems to be the same item as No. 121. (Stevens does not give a separate entry for this 1817 Paradise Regain'd.) I suspect that his No. 266 from 1827 is another edition of the separated POEMS on Several Occasions (that is, Volume IV); he gives no information except that Westall's plates are included. Sharpe's Paradise Regain'd. With the Life of the Author (1809) is Stevens's No. 1103, and may represent an early publication by him; but No. 1106, dated 1827, must be another edition of Volumes III and IV (No. 121 from 1817) and another copy of Volume IV given as No. 266. Stevens's No. 686 enters Paradise Lost in two volumes from 1825, with the added information that the title pages are dated 1822. I assume this later statement refers to second title pages. Whatever the accurate entries should be, it is clear that Stevens's citations are confused and confusing and uselessly incomplete. The King Library, in any case, holds the following items: "
I think I'll leave the mystery at that, but I repeat - if anyone can provide any clarity then I'd much appreciate it!

 

Milton's Poetical Works, The Globe Edition (1906)

 

I have to say that I'm not sure where I purchased this from - I did think it was an eBay find, but there's no record for that. It's another interesting one to search for as there appear to be plenty of them, many claiming to be the Globe Edition, but very few with the same cover, or indeed marked on the cover as a Globe Edition.

I couldn't find an online scan for it either, so I might add that to my ever growing to do list! If you're looking for an antique copy of Paradise Lost then this can be picked up quite cheaply, and also includes his other poetry including Paradise Regained.

Paradise Regained has never had quite the same impact as Paradise Lost for me, but I listened to an audio performance of it recently and I enjoyed it more than I remembered. Sometimes it is worth revisiting things.


Penguin Popular Classics (1996)

 

I imagine that this was many people's first introduction to Paradise Lost. I'd like to think that it was mine too, but I can't remember. And yes, I struggled trying to read it at first. In fact, it took a few attempts over the course of a year or so before I actually finished a read-through. And I've been hooked ever since (as you can probably tell).

Whilst this is far from my oldest copy of the book, it is the one I've owned the longest and read the most.

Airmont Classic Edition (1968)

 

This superficially has a similar form to the Penguin Classics, although from a US publisher and containing a few more supporting notes, and more significantly it includes Paradise Regained.  Sadly it's only in fair condition with some damage on the back cover. Like many mass paperbacks after a certain age, it has a fragile feel to it.

Ben Power Play Adaptation (2006)

 

Beyond the interest of adding another version of the original poem, this is a stage adaptation that may come in handy as a reference for a future project. I'm not familiar with the stage production, but I'd happily go and see one. The author seems to be experienced in adapting classics to play form. I'm now curious how more adaptations there are, and what differences there might be between them.

Philip Pullman Illustrated Edition (2005)

 

The influence of Milton's work is readily apparent in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials books, and Pullman is open about this fact. My first book 'The Cult of Me (or rather a trilogy) was also heavily inspired by Paradise Lost, but it's fair to say that he did a better job!

This particular edition is also interesting as it's essentially the same project that I'm undertaking, so it's reassuring not to be the only lunatic with this idea :-)

Milton for the Methodists (1988)


So I suspect that this could well entice me down a John Wesley shaped rabbit hole in the not-too-distant future. l was aware that John Wesley held the work to be of some special significance, but have so far managed to avoid looking too deeply into it. However, while working on a local history project (to be revealed at the end of this month) mention of this work attracted my attention.

I know have a growing stack of papers to read to learn more about this association and you should probably expect a more general article about this once I'm more familiar with the history. In terms of a version of the poem, it's an abridged version with selected passages of importance to John Wesley's religious perspective. 

The Globe Edition (1934) - The Poetical Works of John Milton

 

I do already have an older version of this edition and it's unfortunate that they look almost exactly the same. And the separation of 30+ years indicates that there are a fair few of these. However, as I'm entering a 'Gotta Catch Em All' frame of mind there'll no doubt be a shelf full of these at some stage!

Okay, now I've placed them side by side the new one is small and puny in comparison :-)


Milton Paradise Lost - Longman Paperback (1986)


 

The 80s were my teen years and I guess they'll never seem that long ago to me. Even if my mind refuses to accept that 40-odd years is a reasonable time period, it is quite short considering the history of the source. However, it does have a couple of interesting aspects. The first is that it's aimed at an academic audience and has a considerable number of annotations bringing clarity to the more obscure references.

There's also a small personal story attached to it, all told by a sticker on the first front matter page. In the class of 85-86 a young lady named Sarah won this copy as Miss Boddington's prize for History at Norwich High School. I wonder if she had an interest in the book, or if it was a standard prize.


Paradise Lost The Novel by Joseph Lanzara



This was an accidental find after discovering the author's website - https://www.paradiselost.org/index-desk.html It is an interesting website with some useful information without being too dense. I can't comment on the novel (yet) as I haven't read, but certainly will do at some stage. I'm a fan of any attempt to allow Paradise Lost reach and ever wider audience.



Collins Classics Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained (2013)

Probably the most recent edition in the collection at less than 10 years old. However, it's a decent edition with both poems with two slightly novel features. The first is the Life and Times and while it's functionally similar to the usual biography it does expand on the context of events at the time of the poem's writing. Unfortunately, it is quite brief.

The other feature is a glossary of words and phrases from the time and this is much more extensive and quite a useful companion to the two poems. I'm tempted to do something similar although maybe as a separate booklet so that it can be more easily referenced while reading the main.

I have to confess that the main reason I picked this up (apart from the crazy goal of collecting a copy of every edition) was Gustav Dore's fantastic illustration. I'm more used to seeing the black and white illustrations and was struck by this bold rendition of the original.

The Poetical Works of Milton, Oxford University Press (1941)

This is a nice understated edition with soft leather binding and little ornamentation apart from thin gold lettering and motif on the spine, and a frame embossing on the covers. It's a lovely edition to hold, just the right weight and size something that seems to be rare with modern hardbacks. The comparison is a little unfair as age adds appeal but even so, there's clearly a difference. Perhaps due to more people reading hardbacks as paperbacks just weren't as common and before hardbacks became relegated to the collector or superfan.

There's a preface that examines each of the included poems with some brief history and also some commentary revealing some insight into each. While hardly extensive it does provide a compelling introduction to the book.

One of my favourite aspects of buying secondhand books is the personal history you occasionally discover. Inside it's handwritten to or from Marjorie Pearson dated Christmas 1941 and there's also an interesting sticker identifying the book as owned by Harold Hartley. There's no indication of a connection but I did wonder did the book provide some comfort to someone during the war or away from their family.  

John Milton's Paradise Lost in Plain English by Lanzara

This book is a line-by-line transliteration of the complete poem. Unlike Daniel Danielson's Parallel Prose edition there's little effort to make the plain English text a pleasing read in its own right. Against each line is a plain English version and I'd suggest that this probably works better as a companion, so if stuck on a particular line you can look it up here to learn the meaning.

It's a shame that it doesn't expand upon the basic meaning to help the reader understand the many classical and sometimes obscure references in the poem. It does exactly what the title states so it's unfair to judge it too harshly beyond that.

The author also write a novelisation of Paradise Lost which is a more pleasing read - you can find more of my thoughts on that book here:

https://paradiselostaiedition.blogspot.com/2022/11/paradise-lost-novel-by-joseph-lanzara.html

From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained (1972)

This book demonstrates that I should do at least a modicum of research before purchasing. Technically this isn't a Jehovah's Witness edition of Paradise Lost I assumed from the title although it does cover the same ground. I've only had a quick look so far and I think I'll have to give it a proper read as it looks like they've adapted the creation story to follow some form of science.

The copy is as old as I am and in a similar well-loved condition :-) It's aimed at younger readers with cheerful simple illustrations and many pen highlights. I think I'll probably buy another copy at some stage although I'll see if I can get an original 1958 print.

A Day with John Milton by May Byron

This was another accidental discovery while searching for more additions. The description sounded like an interesting idea. She wrote a series of short tales about a fictional day in the lives of famous poets and writers.

And it was short, much shorter than I expected although it is a compelling read. The day is set later in his life and after writing Paradise Lost. Milton's personality comes across much as I'd expected and I do wonder how accurate the portrayal is.

I'm currently writing a biography of Milton as part of my new AI Illustrated Edition (https://paradiselostaiedition.blogspot.com/) and while the research I'm doing is interesting May Byron's short tale is a more intimate and engaging approach. So much so that I might include it as it's out of copyright now and provide a richer context for the man,

Unfortunately, this isn't a great edition. I've nothing against Print on Demand and have used it myself but books like this are part of why the disdain exists. This is a minimal-effort reprint and the original illustrations are not included along with no information about the book at all - not even a publishing or print date. It's cheap to pick up though and a read that shed's some light on one of the English language's finest poets.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)