Milton in Context Literature in Context Series

Few early modern poets engaged more fully with their historical circumstances than John Milton. A pamphleteer, government employee, and writer of occasional verse, Milton did not retreat from public life even after his political hopes were dashed by the Restoration. This volume investigates the various ways in which Milton's works and experiences emerged from the culture and events of his time. In a series of concise, engaging essays, an international group of scholars examines both the social conditions of Milton's life and the broader intellectual currents that shaped his writings and reputation. A uniquely wide range of topics is covered: from biography to translations, from astronomy to philosophy, and from the English Church to the civil wars. Milton in Context is an accessible reference work that both students and scholars will turn to again and again to enrich their understanding of Milton's writings and his world.

Preface; Part I. Life and Works: 1. Biography Annabel Patterson; 2. Composition: process and chronology Juliet Lucy; 3. Early lives Edward Jones; 4. Letters, verse letters, and gift-texts Cedric C. Brown; 5. Milton on himself Stephen M. Fallon; 6. Poetic tradition, dramatic Ann Baynes Coiro; 7. Poetic tradition, epic Anthony Welch; 8. Poetic tradition, pastoral Barbara K. Lewalski; 9. Prose style Walter S. H. Lim; 10. Verse and rhyme John Creaser; Part II. Critical Legacy: 11. Critical responses, early John Rumrich; 12. Critical responses, 1825–1970 P. J. Klemp; 13. Critical responses, recent J. Martin Evans; 14. Later publishing history John T. Shawcross; 15. Translations Christophe Tournu; 16. Visual arts Wendy Furman-Adams; Part III. Historical and Cultural Contexts: 17. Astronomy Dennis Danielson; 18. The book trade Stephen B. Dobranski; 19. The Caroline court Nicholas McDowell; 20. Catholicism Joan S. Bennett; 21. The civil wars James Loxley; 22. Classical literature and learning Stella P. Revard; 23. Education Gregory Chaplin; 24. The English Church Neil Forsyth; 25. The Interregnum David Loewenstein; 26. Italy Catherine Gimelli Martin; 27. Law Lynne Greenberg; 28. Literary contemporaries Albert C. Labriola; 29. Logic Phillip J. Donnelly; 30. London Ian W. Archer; 31. Manuscript transmission Randall Ingram; 32. Marriage and divorce Shigeo Suzuki; 33. Music Diane McColley; 34. The natural world Karen L. Edwards; 35. The New World Amy Boesky; 36. Pamphlet wars N. H. Keeble; 37. Philosophy Pitt Harding; 38. Reading practices Elizabeth Sauer; 39. The Restoration Joad Raymond; 40. Theology William Poole; Further reading; Index.

Stephen B. Dobranski is Associate Professor of English at Georgia State University.