Well established text taken from the same editors edition of Milton's Major Works which was previously published in the acclaimed Oxford Authors series Excellent new introduction contextualizes Milton and his poem and discusses the poem's structure, language, God vs Satan and a summary of critical responses to the poem since its publication
Since the poem needs frequent annotation the notes are set at the foot of the page instead of at the back of the book which makes referring to them very much easier
Modernized text Orgel and Goldberg are well known and widely respected scholars of long standing
From almost the moment of its first publication in 1667, Paradise Lost was considered a classic. It is difficult now to appreciate both how audacious an undertaking it represents, and how astonishing its immediate and continued success was. Over the course of twelve books Milton wrote an epic poem that would 'justify the ways of God to men', a mission that required a complex drama whose source is both historical and deeply personal. The struggle for ascendancy between God and Satan is played out across hell, heaven, and earth but the consequences of the Fall are all too humanly tragic - pride, ambition, and aspiration the motivating forces. In this new edition derived from their acclaimed Oxford Authors text, Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg discuss the complexity of Milton's poem in a new introduction, and on-page notes explain its language and allusions.