Why Milton Matters: A New Preface to His Writings by J. Wittreich (English) Pape

Description: Why Milton Matters: A New Preface to His Writings by J. Wittreich Wittreich demonstrates why Milton may prove to be the poet for the new millennium, in a book of interest to scholars and general readers. It engages the canonical Milton, as well as the Milton of popular culture, and uses the tools of theory- especially affective stylistics and reception history, to read Milton in his historical moment and our own. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Wittreich demonstrates why Milton may prove to be the poet for the new millennium, in a book of interest to scholars and general readers. It engages the canonical Milton, as well as the Milton of popular culture, and uses the tools of theory- especially affective stylistics and reception history, to read Milton in his historical moment and our own. Author Biography JOSEPH WITTREICH is Distinguished Professor of English, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, USA. Table of Contents Illustrations Preface Citations "Reading" Milton: The Death (and Survival) of the Author Horizons of Expectations: Represssions, Receptions, and the Politics of Miltons Last Poems Critique and Questioning: The Formation of a New Milton Criticism Review Wittreichs brilliant and richly learned analysis gives us a Milton who does indeed matter, a Milton whose ever-radical approach to politics and religion offers new perspectives on post-9/11 global dilemmas and new ways of thinking about good and evil, freedom and oppression. Particularly in the three great poems (Paradise Lost, Samson Agonistes, and Paradise Regaind), Wittreich finds a compendium of rival interpretations that invite a thoughtful re-consideration of the Bible and human history. He persuades us that these poems are apt companions as, confronting global hatreds and anger, we are haunted by images of hubris flaunted only to be followed by stunning defeat. The moral dilemmas of Samson Agonistes, especially, are meant to worry our humanity. Magisterial in its knowledge of Miltons contexts and reception history, this book draws on seventeenth-century biblical commentary, recent literary theory, and a great deal in between to persuade us of a complex, provocative, and breathtakingly relevant Milton. - Susanne Woods, Wheaton CollegeMan, said W. B. Yeats, can embody truth but he cannot know it. What Wittreich shows, in this eloquent, passionate, and beautifully argued study, is that Miltons late poems - Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson Agonistes - are unique in their embodiment of scenes of ideological, theological, and psychological conflict, a conflict that cannot, at least in our world, be resolved. What we learn from Milton, Wittreich shows, is that mind/body, head/heart dichotomies are no way of conceiving human relationships, only demonic ones. In defying all easy answers and solutions - and hence open to myriad interpretations and exegeses - Milton emerges as THE necessary poet of the twenty-first century, the poet who can help his readers around the globe understand what it means to be human. - Marjorie Perloff, Sadie Dernham Patek Professor Emerita of Humanities, Stanford UniversityWittreichs Why Milton Matters stands alone both as a radically unsettling reading of Miltons late works and as the most literarily illuminating instance to date of the new critical movement of the history of the early modern book. No aspect of the study of Milton is too small or too great for Wittreichs delightfully idiosyncratic analytic approach: everything from the typography of title pages and lists of emendations to the grandest and most often-quoted passages of Paradise Lost are made in this book to yield surprising and insightful new meanings.Taking his cue from the relentlessly questioning poet to whom he has devoted his distinguished career, Wittreich subjects to a relentless questioning our received notions of the author, the texts, and the monumental cultural institution that all circulate in the world of letters under the name of Milton. - John Rogers, Yale University Promotional Springer Book Archives Long Description Wittreich demonstrates why Milton may prove to be the poet for the new millennium, in a book of interest to scholars and general readers. It engages the canonical Milton, as well as the Milton of popular culture, and uses the tools of theory- especially affective stylistics and reception history, to read Milton in his historical moment and our own. Review Quote "Wittreichs brilliant and richly learned analysis gives us a Milton who does indeed matter, a Milton whose ever-radical approach to politics and religion offers new perspectives on post-9/11 global dilemmas and new ways of thinking about good and evil, freedom and oppression. Particularly in the three great poems ("Paradise"" Lost," "Samson Agonistes," and "Paradise"" Regaind"), Wittreich finds "a compendium of rival interpretations" that invite a thoughtful re-consideration of the Bible and human history. He persuades us that these poems are apt companions as, confronting global hatreds and anger, we are haunted by images of hubris flaunted only to be followed by stunning defeat. The moral dilemmas of Samson Agonistes, especially, are meant to worry our humanity. Magisterial in its knowledge of Miltons contexts and reception history, this book draws on seventeenth-century biblical commentary, recent literary theory, and a great deal in between to persuade us of a complex, provocative, and breathtakingly relevant Milton."--Susanne Woods, Wheaton College "Man, said W. B. Yeats, can embody truth but he cannot know it. What Wittreich shows, in this eloquent, passionate, and beautifully argued study, is that Miltons late poems--"Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, "and "Samson Agonistes"--are unique in their embodiment of scenes of ideological, theological, and psychological conflict, a conflict that cannot, at least in our world, be resolved. What we learn from Milton, Wittreich shows, is that mind/body, head/heart dichotomies are no way of conceiving human relationships, only demonic ones. In defying all easy answers and solutions--and hence open to myriad interpretationsand exegeses--Milton emerges as THE necessary poet of the twenty-first century, the poet who can help his readers around the globe understand what it means to be human."--Marjorie Perloff, Sadie Dernham Patek Professor Emerita of Humanities, Stanford University "Wittreichs "Why Milton Matters" stands alone both as a radically unsettling reading of Miltons late works and as the most literarily illuminating instance to date of the new critical movement of the history of the early modern book. No aspect of the study of Milton is too small or too great for Wittreichs delightfully idiosyncratic analytic approach: everything from the typography of title pages and lists of emendations to the grandest and most often-quoted passages of "Paradise Lost" are made in this book to yield surprising and insightful new meanings. Taking his cue from the relentlessly questioning poet to whom he has devoted his distinguished career, Wittreich subjects to a relentless questioning our received notions of the author, the texts, and the monumental cultural institution that all circulate in the world of letters under the name of Milton."--John Rogers, Yale University "[Wittreichs argument] is prosecuted, as we might expect, with learning, eloquence, and generosity...Wittreichs reading of Milton (here and in previous writings) commands the attention and admiration of every Miltonist."--"Milton Quarterly" "If one begins the book dubious of Wittreichs view that "most of us agree" Milton (1608-1674) really matters in 2007, by the end one is certainly convinced he should matter. Wittreich also mounts a vigorous case for the surprising assertin that Milton is an "emphatically American" poet."--"CUNYMatters" Details ISBN1349533580 Publisher Palgrave Macmillan ISBN-10 1349533580 ISBN-13 9781349533589 Format Paperback Language English Media Book DEWEY 821.4 Year 2008 Publication Date 2008-03-27 Edition 1st Imprint Palgrave Macmillan Subtitle A New Preface to His Writings Place of Publication Basingstoke Country of Publication United Kingdom Pages 253 Author J. Wittreich UK Release Date 2008-03-27 AU Release Date 2008-03-27 NZ Release Date 2008-03-27 Edition Description 1st ed. 2006 Alternative 9781403972293 Illustrations 16 Illustrations, black and white; XXV, 253 p. 16 illus. Audience Professional & Vocational We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:99145065;

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