Often considered the greatest epic in any modern language, Paradise Lost tells the story of the revolt of Satan, his banishment from Heaven, and the ensuing fall of Man with his expulsion from Eden. It is a tale of immense drama and excitement, of innocence pitted against corruption, of rebellion and treachery, in which God and Satan fight a bitter battle for control of mankind’s destiny. The struggle ranges across heaven, hell, and earth, as Satan and his band of rebel angels conspire against God. At the center of the conflict are Adam and Eve, motivated by all too human temptations, but whose ultimate downfall is unyielding love.

Written in blank verse of unsurpassed majesty, Paradise Lost is the work of a mastermind involved in a profound search for truth.

Of Man’s first disobedience and the fruit // Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste // Brought death into the world and all our woe, // With loss of Eden, till on greater Man //Restore us and regain the blissful seat // Sing, Heavenly Muse… // Thus begins the epic poem, considered the greatest in the English language, as John Milton seeks to “justify the ways of God to men” through relating the story of Satan’s rebellion in Heaven, the deception and fall of Man, and the presaged event of Redemption through Jesus, the Son of God…the “Second Adam.” // An English cleric with a classical education, Milton lost his eyesight in 1652, and thus the story was largely dictated by the blind poet, lending a certain quality of the ancient oral epics, which only serves to enhance the telling of the tale. Weaving classical mythology with a deep knowledge and reference to Scripture, Milton’s genius for narrative unfolds what his biographer, Samuel Johnson, called his “peculiar power to astonish.” // Nadia May has narrated over five hundred audiobooks and has earned the prestigious AudioFile Golden Voice award, as well as fourteen Earphone awards. She is an accomplished film, TV, and theater actress. Wanda’s native British voice complements her graduate education in English Literature from UC Berkeley to make her delivery of John Milton’s Paradise Lost engaging and nuanced.

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.

In Paradise Regained, Satan again is on the prowl, having successfully tempted Adam and Eve, and forced their departure from the Garden of Eden, here he sets out to tempt again – this time Jesus himself, as he comes to the end of his 40 days in the desert. The magisterial poetry of Milton enriches the encounter and, while not matching the greatness achieved in Paradise Lost, provides drama and depth.John Milton (1608-1674) was an English poet and scholar. His classic verse has been studied and enjoyed by many, both for its insight into Milton’s contemporary times and as a literary exploration of Biblical narrative and themes.