GREAT POETS: JOHN MILTON

The incomparable Derek Jacobi is completely in his element when reading Milton. His performance of the sonnet "On Shakespeare" seems particularly well suited to his voice, which is so closely associated with the Bard. Samantha Bond is equally comfortable with Milton's verse, and the two work well together in the selections that call for two voices. While PARADISE LOST is, no doubt, Milton's most well-known masterpiece (if not his most widely read), this recording includes only brief selections from it, totaling less than seven minutes. This is a wise editorial choice as it leaves room for some shorter and more accessible poems that showcase the work of these two outstanding narrators. D.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2008]