Milton, Aristocrat and Rebel

General survey and discussion of the development of Milton's political ideas, from his early poetry through the English revolution of 1640-1660 to the epic poetry of the Restoration years, and his self-proclaimed role as poet-prophet. Perez Zagorin presents an account of Milton's philosophy set in relationship to his personal and intellectual history as a political man during the English revolution. He follows Milton's mind in its political manifestations fromhis earlier poetry before the outbreak of revolt against the Stuart monarchy, through his activity as a passionate partisan and revolutionary publicist in the decades 1640-1660, to his final work as an epic poet following the revolution's failure and the restoration of Charles II in 1660. Throughout his life, Milton saw his political beliefs and his idea of the poet as prophet and teacher of nations as being inseparable. His political writings and basic conception of himself as a rebel against the existing political and religious order, thoughtfully traced in this study, demonstrate the fundamental continuity of his values and ensure his place in the English republican tradition. PEREZ ZAGORINis Wilson Professor Emeritus of History, University of Rochester.