John Milton, lived from 1608 until 1674, and was one of England’s greatest poets and intellectuals. He was renowned for his mastery of language and commitment to liberty and faith. Educated at Cambridge, he became fluent in multiple languages and deeply versed in classical literature, theology, and politics. His career spanned turbulent times, including the English Civil War and the Commonwealth period, during which he served as a government official under Oliver Cromwell. Despite later losing his sight, Milton continued to write, dictating his works to assistants. His epic Paradise Lost, published in 1667, retells the biblical story of the Fall of Man with extraordinary scope and imagination, blending theology, philosophy, and poetry into a work of enduring power.