Paradise Lost: Unabridged With Line Numbers

"Paradise Lost" was originally published in 1667 in ten books. A second edition followed in 1674, redivided into twelve books (in the manner of the division of Virgil's Aeneid) with minor revisions throughout and a note on the versification. "Paradise Lost" concerns the Christian story of the Fall of Man: the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Milton's purpose, stated in Book I, is to "justify the ways of God to men" and elucidate the conflict between God's eternal foresight and free will. Milton incorporates Paganism, classical Greek references, and Christianity within "Paradise Lost." He also deals with such diverse topics as marriage, politics, the monarchy, and grapples with many difficult theological issues, including fate, predestination, the Trinity, and the introduction of sin and death into the world, as well as angels, fallen angels, Satan, and the war in heaven. In "Paradise Lost" Milton draws on his knowledge of languages, and diverse sources - primarily Genesis, much of the New Testament, the deuterocanonical Book of Enoch, and other parts of the Old Testament.