Paradise Lost

By: John Milton

Narrated by: Simon Vance

John Milton's Paradise Lost is one of the greatest epic poems in the English language. It tells the story of the Fall of Man, a tale of immense drama and excitement, of rebellion and treachery, of innocence pitted against corruption, in which God and Satan fight a bitter battle for control of mankind's destiny. The struggle rages across three worlds - heaven, hell, and earth - as Satan and his band of rebel angels plot their revenge against God. At the center of the conflict are Adam and Eve, who are motivated by all too human temptations but whose ultimate downfall is unyielding love.

Marked by Milton's characteristic erudition, Paradise Lost is a work epic both in scale and, notoriously, in ambition. For nearly 350 years, it has held generation upon generation of audiences in rapt attention, and its profound influence can be seen in almost every corner of Western culture.

Public Domain (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"If you’re in the mood for a heart-pounding morality tale, this is the book for you. This seventeenth-century classic has survived all these years for many reasons, not least of which is that it portrays Satan as a sympathetic hero. Narrator Simon Vance is equipped with a forceful British accent, which he uses to accentuate the text and bring the story to life. He subtly changes his tone and emphasis as the story moves from heaven to hell to earth, and he enables us to appreciate the story’s different personalities without providing character voices. Vance's most effective attribute is his ability to interpret epic poetry by delivering the lines with rhythm and superb pacing. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award." (AudioFile magazine)

good postulation

really enjoyed the postulation the maid while pulling in so much scripture. can bring new light 2 scripture because he allows you to see it possible for ground

Outstanding story. I could feel the pain that Adam felt.

I was following along with a book and occasionally, the reader would use a different word which was confusing and sometimes changed the meaning of the passage.

classic

this is a classic. well read. the narrators voice and accent were the perfect accompaniment to Milton's poetic narrative.

Paradise Lost

I didn’t like this poem when I read it in college (many decades ago). I decided to give Milton another chance. I appreciate the hard work of the reader, but the poem still annoys me. Nevertheless, I am glad I took time to listen.

Stellar narration!

The narrator brings this work to life in a calmly dignified, yet vibrant manner. A spectacular rendition of the epic!