Published in 2009 | 500 pages | cloth | ISBN: 978-0-8207-0415-9

Reviews:

“This commentary represents a major milestone in Milton studies. . . . When we consider how ideologically charged discussion of Samson Agonistes has been since the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, . . . perhaps the most valuable aspect of Dobranski's volume is its 1970 cutoff point. This gives his audience the opportunity to step back from present controversies and to both examine the issues that were prominent in earlier periods and ponder their significance for more recent critical concerns. . . . In sum, this is an indispensable resource for every academic library.” ⎯ The Review of English Studies

Burnett offers an organized, systematic, focused and self-contained survey that prepares readers for Dobranski's riches, which follow.” ⎯ The Review of English Studies

Book Information:

Over a span of three centuries, scholarly work dedicated to Milton's Samson Agonistes has gradually evolved, reflecting changing critical interpretations within historical contexts. This variorum edition of the poem, the first since 1809, gathers together all significant contributions to understanding Milton's dramatic poem that were published between 1671 and 1970.

This Variorum Commentary is an indispensable reference tool and opens up fresh lines of inquiry. Simply the most comprehensive, detailed, and expansive exploration of Samson Agonistes' critical history, this book is an essential tool for anyone interested in Milton and one of his greatest poetic works.

Author Information:

STEPHEN B. DOBRANSKI is professor of English at Georgia State University. He is the author of various books, including Readers and Authorship in Early Modern England (2005) and Milton, Authorship, and the Book Trade (1999).