Paradise Lost.

£450 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

A handsome two-volume edition of Milton's (1608-1674) epic poem Paradise Lost , 'one of the greatest works of human imagination' retelling in blank-verse the story of the Fall of Man. "The Restoration interrupted Milton's composition of Paradise Lost, which assumed its final form in the years 1658-63. The remote beginnings of his epic can be seen in four drafts of a tragedy called 'Paradise Lost' (in the third draft) or 'Adam Unparadised' (in the fourth draft) which survive in the Trinity manuscript; these drafts seem to have been written about 1640. Edward Phillips claimed that he had been shown part of Satan's first soliloquy (Paradise Lost, book 5, ll. 32-41) 'several years before the poem was begun', when Milton still intended it to be a tragedy rather than an epic." (DNB) Sixth edition; 2 vols; 8vo (20.5 x 13.5 cm); engraved portrait frontispiece, 12 further engraved plates, text block slightly toned, occasional spotting (as usual with age) though very light, else very good; contemporary sprinkled calf, gilt spines in 6 compartments, contrasting red and black morocco lettering-pieces, slightly corroded with loss to vol. I, upper joint vol. II split but holding, very good; [cxiv], 510pp, 463pp.

• Binding: Hardcover

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