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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.”
gloriasun's review against another edition
It took longer than I expected because school started and things got quite busy, but I still enjoyed the little snippets of time that I got to get through this brilliant commentary.
jmtinsd_58's review
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
I am about to read Paradise Lost and this was such an amazing intro. Lewis is truly the master at analogy, at making complex things understandable. And with such wit! He deftly handles others’ critique of Milton’s classic work. I truly enjoyed this book!
nwhyte's review against another edition
3.0
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2970090.html
C.S. Lewis had a good year in 1942; he was a regular broadcaster on the BBC, he was working on Perelandra, and he also published The Screwtape Letters (which are certainly on my Best Novel Best Novella ballot). A Preface to Paradise Lost is 150 pages of detailed analysis of the epic poem, the first half looking at the epic style in itself, and the second half looking at Milton’s ideas of Christianity. I’m more familiar with the other epics, and found the first half tremendously rewarding reading, though Lewis’s feud with T.S. Eliot is a little wearying. A very interesting examination of what epic poets are trying to do.
However, I think Lewis himself clearly does not regard the book as related to the field of science fiction, fantasy, or fandom. He comments that Dante (who he otherwise doesn’t discuss much) can be seen as in the same tradition as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, but clearly separates them from Homer, Virgil, the author of Beowulf and Milton as doing very different things. I doubt that the hypothetical voters of the non-existent 1943 Worldcon would have put this on their final ballot, and more important, I doubt that Lewis would have accepted nomination if offered the choice. (Unlike The Screwtape Letters, which clearly has some sfnal roots.)
C.S. Lewis had a good year in 1942; he was a regular broadcaster on the BBC, he was working on Perelandra, and he also published The Screwtape Letters (which are certainly on my Best Novel Best Novella ballot). A Preface to Paradise Lost is 150 pages of detailed analysis of the epic poem, the first half looking at the epic style in itself, and the second half looking at Milton’s ideas of Christianity. I’m more familiar with the other epics, and found the first half tremendously rewarding reading, though Lewis’s feud with T.S. Eliot is a little wearying. A very interesting examination of what epic poets are trying to do.
However, I think Lewis himself clearly does not regard the book as related to the field of science fiction, fantasy, or fandom. He comments that Dante (who he otherwise doesn’t discuss much) can be seen as in the same tradition as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, but clearly separates them from Homer, Virgil, the author of Beowulf and Milton as doing very different things. I doubt that the hypothetical voters of the non-existent 1943 Worldcon would have put this on their final ballot, and more important, I doubt that Lewis would have accepted nomination if offered the choice. (Unlike The Screwtape Letters, which clearly has some sfnal roots.)
csd17's review against another edition
5.0
The first half is about the technicality of the writing. But it is the second half that blows you away where he examines Milton's religious statements. It's almost flawless and I love it.
lesliecalhoun's review
3.0
Just in one short section of this Preface, Lewis poignantly explains why Milton's Satan is not a comic character and should rather be taken extremely seriously. According to Lewis, Milton began Satan's character in a regal and powerful position and gradually reduced him down through the layers of politician and secret agent and peeping tom and toad to finally the serpent that accosted Eve. Rather than being an apology for his earlier and more grandiose depictions of Satan, Milton's purpose in portraying this decline of Satan's is to show the process of one's character who has allowed themselves to be ruled by injured merit, self-pity, and utter self-focus. Lewis contrasts how Milton uses the speeches of Adam and Satan to show what their interests and values are. Adam speaks on a range of subjects all outside himself while Satan, even when addressing something other than himself, always ends up speaking about his position. This and other facets of Satan's character have made him seem comic and indeed have made him one of Milton's best characters. Lewis explains this latter belief by saying that perhaps Milton did have some sort of similarity to Satan and his pride and lust and anger and envy and violence...but then don't we all? Lewis aptly points out that it is far easier for an author to write a character that is worse than him, for all he has to do is drop the moral barriers that are so hard to keep up in the first place and allow his animal side to run rampantly in his imagination. To write a character better than oneself, an author must try to rise above himself and imagine what these higher qualities would look and feel like in a person. Therefore, Milton's well-drawn character of Satan, who at times might seem ludicrous and laughable, should be regarded with caution and solemnity. Each of us takes selfish and dishonest steps every day, and we have all had a share in propogating misery. However, Lewis concludes his criticism by leaving the decision up to the reader. The reader may choose to laugh at what he views to be a comic character, or he may decide to recognize the truth that Satan lives in a monomaniac selfishness of infinite boredom and yet WANTS to go on living that existence. He firmly believes that it is better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven, and readers should survey their own hearts in light of this caricature instead of just dismissing Milton's Satan as a comic figure.
torts's review
3.0
Really interesting. But cut back on the pretentious allusions to other works, C.S. Lewis. It makes you look like a tool. A tool who quotes people in other languages. Without properly integrating said quotes. Now I see why Philip Pullman dislikes you. You're also sexist. Are you dead yet?
paperbookmarks's review
3.0
Read for Restoration module.
I found Lewis' commentary on Milton very intriguing, especially if you were to parallel his writings on the creation of the earth with Milton's. A very helpful, interesting read!
I found Lewis' commentary on Milton very intriguing, especially if you were to parallel his writings on the creation of the earth with Milton's. A very helpful, interesting read!
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