The poems
Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained
Edited with an introduction by Joe Carlson
Both epics complete, with Carlson’s introduction, his summary before each book, Milton’s own Arguments, line numbers and short glosses.
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John Milton · 1608–1674
Milton’s Paradise Lost & Paradise Regained
If English is your mother tongue, this is your epic poem.
Two epics, one story: the Fall in Paradise Lost, and the victory of the Son in Paradise Regained. Read them in Dr. Joe Carlson’s edition with his Reader’s Guide, and study them with him in the eighteen lectures of the Milton Curriculum.
The poems
Everyone focuses on Satan. Nobody focuses on Christ.
Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained assert “Eternal Providence” and “justify the ways of God to men” through the magnification of the Son over sin and death. In Paradise Lost, John Milton chronicles the fall of the demon horde into the depths of Hell, the escape of the archfiend into the beauties of unfallen Eden, the deception of Eve and the abdication of Adam, and the promise of future redemption. In the equally important follow-up, Paradise Regained, the great seventeenth-century poet investigates the motivations of Satan as he tempts Jesus in the wilderness, culminating in a second and even greater fall. Throughout both poems, which ought to be read together, the Son is consistently exalted and glorified as the Mighty Victor of Heaven and Earth, the One who will reconcile God to man.
This is His story, and it is glorious.
Oh unexampled love,
Love nowhere to be found less than divine!
Hail, Son of God, Savior of Men! Thy name
Shall be the copious matter of my song
Henceforth, and never shall my heart thy praise
Forget, nor from thy Father’s praise disjoin.
The poems, the guide and the lectures
Made to be read side by side
The Reader’s Guide does not reprint the poems: its notes follow the line numbers of Joe Carlson’s edition, one book at a time. The video course walks through both poems with him, book by book.
Reader’s Guide
Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained: Reader’s Guide
By Joe Carlson
For each of the sixteen books: the characters and places, a summary, notes on the allusions with the Scripture printed in full, short essays on key moments, and discussion questions.
$21.95View & buy
Video course
The Milton Curriculum Video Course
Taught by Dr. Joe Carlson
Eighteen lectures, nine hours in all, streaming in the Roman Roads app: Milton’s life and times, then both poems book by book.
$74.75View & buy
PlayTaught by Joe Carlson
The Milton Curriculum Video Course
Eighteen lectures, nine hours in all: Milton’s life and times, the history behind the poems and the nature of epic, then all twelve books of Paradise Lost and the four of Paradise Regained. Dr. Carlson draws out the theology of the two poems and defends Milton as an orthodox Trinitarian against the charge of Arianism.
The lectures
Eighteen lectures, both poems
- 01Introduction
- 02Life and Times of Milton
- 03Historical and Literary Context
- 04Paradise Lost, Book 1
- 05Paradise Lost, Books 2–3
- 06Paradise Lost, Book 3
- 07Paradise Lost, Book 4, part one
- 08Paradise Lost, Book 4, part two
- 09Paradise Lost, Books 5–6
- 10Paradise Lost, Books 7–8
- 11Paradise Lost, Book 9
- 12Paradise Lost, Book 10
- 13Paradise Lost, Books 11–12
- 14Paradise Regained, Book 1
- 15Paradise Regained, Books 1–2
- 16Paradise Regained, Books 3–4
- 17Paradise Regained, Book 4
- 18Epilogue
All six in one playlist, in the Roman Roads app. Audio Articles on Milton
After Hours · Feb 4, 2026 · 1 h 32 minA Very Milton Christmas
A Roman Roads After Hours Event
The editor, the guide and the lectures
Dr. Joe Carlson
Joe Carlson holds a BA in Liberal Arts and Culture from New Saint Andrews College, and an MA in Humanities and a PhD in Literature from the University of Dallas. In different lifetimes he has co-pastored a church, co-founded a campus ministry, published (micro) epic poetry, and managed a chain of coffee shops. Currently, he is a Senior Editor with Roman Roads Press and a Literature professor at New Saint Andrews College. He lives in Moscow, Idaho, with his wife and son.
