Reflecting Milton's knowledgeability in many fields, this collection investigates a wide variety of subjects fundamental to an understanding of the seventeenth century, including the importance of the writings of Thrice Great Hermes, the profound influence of Aristotle on Milton's conception of the power of matter, and the issue of Milton's relations with the Presbyterian church. This nine volume set presents in easily aeeessible format the extensive information now available about John Milton. It has grown to be a study of English civilization of Milton's time and a history of literary and political matters since then. In this survey one may discover Milton as he saw himself and eome to recapture some of his originality. The selections from A Milton Encyclopedia in this volume were written by experts in each subject.
Essays range in chronological scope from the twelfth to the twentieth centuries.
Williams was hailed for his metaphysical. These es says study the rhetorical means he employed to con vey that vision and the rhetorical theories that guided his writing. WUliams emerges as one who could pre serve a sense of the transcendent, and the collection chaileoges any temptation to oversimplify either Williams's art or his ideas.