Paradise Lost.. And Found, In The Pages Of A 200 Year Old Book.

Ok, there is nothing I love more than being curled up in bed with a good book. I've been reading from an early age as it is something that my parents encouraged, and something that I will encourage James to do.
One of my favourite pieces of literature in history is Milton's Paradise Lost. I studied it as part of my A-level English Literature and I fell in love with it. I'm a huge fan of gothic literature anyway but this book completely captured me. I love the whole story of the fall from Heaven, and the way Milton tells it.
I'd told my boss that I really wanted to own a first edition copy of the book, but they cost almost £1,000,000. So I was having a look through eBay and I found a copy from circa 1795, for £40 and I had to snap it up. It was the oldest one I'd found and probably the 10th one I'd put a bid on. I wasn't really holding out much hope for winning it, I hadn't won any others. Still, I sat in front of my laptop, with 1 minute to go, finger on the bid button waiting for the last second, and in the end I won. I can't even remember exactly how much I paid, I just know it was less than £4o.
When it came it was exactly what I expected. Beaten up, browning, the front and back covers weren't attached, and it smelt a little musty, but as far as I'm concerned it's perfect.

 

 

Chances are I will never actually read it, mostly because it's far too precious but partly because it's written in very old English, and I'd need to translate it in order to be able to read it. I will most likely just buy a newer edition for the purpose of reading.