Author Description
When this monumental work was first published in 1968, it was hailed as one of the great literary biographies of the century. Based on a vast range of documentary evidence, the book is essential reading for all students of Milton and seventeenth-century literature. This new edition of the biography has been revised and serves as a complete, self-contained, and accessible account of Milton's life.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This biography investigates the complex life and intellectual development of John Milton, the seminal seventeenth-century poet and political figure. William Riley Parker, a distinguished scholar of English literature, synthesizes decades of archival research to construct a comprehensive portrait of Milton's personal experiences, professional career, and the socio-political climate of his era. The text argues that understanding the minutiae of Milton's daily life is critical to interpreting the depth and intent of his major literary contributions.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed examination of Milton's early education and formative years in London.
- Analysis of the poet's political involvement during the English Civil War and the Interregnum.
- Extensive use of primary source documentation, including correspondence, legal records, and contemporary accounts.
- Contextualization of Milton's major works within the religious and intellectual debates of the seventeenth century.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and critics widely recognize this work as a foundational text in Milton studies due to its exhaustive research and meticulous attention to historical detail. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous reference for students and researchers of early modern literature.
Page Count:
700
Publication Date:
1996-09-26
Publisher:
Clarendon Press
ISBN-10:
0198128894
ISBN-13:
9780198128892
Biography
History
Seventeenth Century
Literary Criticism
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