Areopagitica and Other Prose Works - Hardcover

Milton, Professor John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1163202347 ISBN 13: 9781163202340

Publisher: Kessinger Publishing, 2010

Synopsis

Areopagitica and Other Prose Works is a collection of essays and speeches written by the renowned English poet and political thinker, John Milton. The book contains Milton's famous defense of free speech and press, Areopagitica, which was published in 1644 during the English Civil War. In this work, Milton argues against government censorship and advocates for the free exchange of ideas and opinions.The collection also includes other notable works by Milton, such as The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce, which argues for the right to divorce on the grounds of incompatibility, and The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, in which Milton defends the right of the people to overthrow a tyrannical government.Throughout the book, Milton's powerful prose and passionate arguments demonstrate his commitment to individual liberty and his belief in the importance of the free exchange of ideas. Areopagitica and Other Prose Works is a timeless and thought-provoking collection that continues to be relevant to contemporary debates about free speech and democracy.1927. The immediate occasion of the Areopagitica was the order of June 1643, by which Parliament reestablished the censorship of the Press. Milton's main object is to show the absurdity and iniquity of this measure, and to press for its repeal. But he does not confine himself within these comparatively narrow limits. Again and again, particularly in the latter part of the treatise, he deliberately breaks through them, to prove that freedom of speech and freedom of action are not evils to be tolerated, but blessings essential to the life and progress of any nation. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

About this title

From the Back Cover

An uncompromising defender of liberty as well as a sublime poet, John Milton published the "Areopagitica" in 1644, at the height of the English Civil War. The impetus arose from Parliament's Licensing Order, which censored all printed materials and ultimately led to arrests, book burnings, and other authoritarian abuses. Milton's polemic, strengthened by biblical and classical allusions, remains enduringly significant and ranks among the world's most eloquent defenses of the right to free speech.
In addition to the "Areopagitica," this collection of Milton's most significant prose works includes "Of Education," a tract on educational reform; "Meditation Upon Divine Justice and The Death of King Charles the First," a rationale for the overthrow of the monarchy; "The Doctrine and Disciple of Divorce," in which the author urges the enactment of a virtually unheard-of reform allowing divorce for incompatibility and the right of remarriage; and "Autobiographical Extracts," featuring highlights from Milton's memoirs.
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About the Author

John Milton was a seventeenth-century English poet, polemicist, and civil servant in the government of Oliver Cromwell. Among Milton s best-known works are the classic epic Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, considered one of the greatest accomplishments in English blank verse, and Samson Agonistes.

Writing during a period of tremendous religious and political change, Milton s theology and politics were considered radical under King Charles I, found acceptance during the Commonwealth period, and were again out of fashion after the Restoration, when his literary reputation became a subject for debate due to his unrepentant republicanism. T.S. Eliot remarked that Milton s poetry was the hardest to reflect upon without one s own political and theological beliefs intruding.

Edition details

• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1163202347
• ISBN 13: 9781163202340
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320