Often considered the greatest epic in any modern language, Paradise Lost tells the story of the revolt of Satan and his banishment from Heaven and the fall of man and his expulsion from Eden. Writing in blank verse of unsurpassed majesty, Milton demonstrates his genius for imagery and cadence. His style is rich and sonorous, his characterizations are heroic, and his action is cosmic in scale.

Miltons stated objective in writing Paradise Lost was to justify the ways of God to men; yet a controversy has developed among the literary community as to the epics merit. Poetry, said Dr. Johnson in his life of Milton, is the art of uniting pleasure with truth, by calling imagination to the help of reason. If Paradise Lost does not fulfill this definition, what does?

Frederick Davidson is a recipient of the Golden Voices Award and numerous Earphones Awards. After performing for years in many BBC radio plays, he came to America in 1976. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks.