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macreader's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
bookishlybeauty's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
vanjr's review against another edition
2.0
My rating is mainly for my inadequacy in appreciating this work. Lewis professional writing is so far beyond me and my literary background that he can say things clearly and precisely but my fundamental background prevents me from gaining that much from it. That said I will continue to read everything he ever wrote due to so many small nuggets of clear thinking that it is well worth my time. Now, back to finish Milton...
jennykeery's review against another edition
3.0
Lewis' very orthodox Christian reading of 'Paradise Lost' that focuses on what Lewis believes Milton would have meant, rather than the supposedly incidental sympathy with the Devil and portrayal of God as a tyrant. I found this book very interesting, though it was quite limited to literal interpretations. The discussions of the tradition of epic poetry were also interesting and useful.
autiger239's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Not much to say except this is an excellent book if you're interested in Lewis, literary criticism, and/or epic poetry.
henley's review against another edition
4.0
Illuminating and engrossing literary criticism, as well as a discerning appreciation for epic poetry. At times Lewis is opinionated, though as expected - after all, it’s his take on Paradise Lost, the last few chapters in particular. He definitely has prompted myself to read Virgil’s Aeneid, and possibly Beowulf. I would have read them earlier if it had not been their perplex language/style. Alas, at least that’s my reductive impression when it comes to epics
paterson's review against another edition
4.0
I haven’t read Milton (!) so I wasn’t a great conversation partner with Lewis. But I have read Beowulf.
My favorite chapter was ‘Hierarchy’. “...the modern idea that we can choose between Hierarchy and equality is, for Shakespeare’s Ulysses, mere moonshine. The real alternative is tyranny; if you will not have authority you will find yourself obeying brute force.”
My favorite chapter was ‘Hierarchy’. “...the modern idea that we can choose between Hierarchy and equality is, for Shakespeare’s Ulysses, mere moonshine. The real alternative is tyranny; if you will not have authority you will find yourself obeying brute force.”