Introduction

'Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.' Satan leads a third of the angels in rebellion against God and is hurled into the burning lake of Hell. In council at Pandaemonium he resolves not to attack Heaven again but to tempt God's newly created race of men. He crosses Chaos to Eden, takes the form of a serpent and persuades Eve to eat the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge; Adam chooses to share her punishment, and humankind loses Paradise. Milton's aim was to 'justify the ways of God to men', yet his proud, steadfast, rebellious Satan led Blake to say that Milton was 'of the Devil's party without knowing it'. This epic of twelve books in blank verse is the greatest epic in the English language.