Old Book
The rare book collections curator at USC's Thomas Cooper library told me a couple months ago that USC holds the 4th-largest collection of John Milton in the world. Having enjoyed the recent Milton exhibit myself, I can confirm that USC's holding onto a handsome collection full of history and a variety of illustrated takes on Milton's work. Good job!
Here's an odd position, though: I've been browsing Thomas Cooper for a copy of Paradise Regained (sequel to Paradise Lost), and only one available copy shows up. The check-out-able section of Milton stuff in the university library has a couple of "Lost and Regained" editions, but I jsut want to lug around Regained. There are three books each titled, "Paradise Regained," but they are each books of criticism and literary analysis (snore).
But talk about a diamond in the rough! I only searched so thoroughly because USC has one copy of Paradise Regained for check-out, and the book and its print are small, enough to require good lighting, if not a magnifying glass. The pages are browning, and all the bottom-of-page footnotes are done in a wise, antiquated voice from way back when.
How far back when? This "New Edition" was published back in 1806! I'm flipping through a 203-year-old book! This is a piece of history! USC should store this in a vault or under glass or something -- what if I spill a drink or slobber spaghetti all over this relic? I'm a damn grad student!
Anywho, I just get a small thrill out of reading such an old edition of Milton. BOOKS AND ALL THAT JAZZ.
Here's an odd position, though: I've been browsing Thomas Cooper for a copy of Paradise Regained (sequel to Paradise Lost), and only one available copy shows up. The check-out-able section of Milton stuff in the university library has a couple of "Lost and Regained" editions, but I jsut want to lug around Regained. There are three books each titled, "Paradise Regained," but they are each books of criticism and literary analysis (snore).
But talk about a diamond in the rough! I only searched so thoroughly because USC has one copy of Paradise Regained for check-out, and the book and its print are small, enough to require good lighting, if not a magnifying glass. The pages are browning, and all the bottom-of-page footnotes are done in a wise, antiquated voice from way back when.
How far back when? This "New Edition" was published back in 1806! I'm flipping through a 203-year-old book! This is a piece of history! USC should store this in a vault or under glass or something -- what if I spill a drink or slobber spaghetti all over this relic? I'm a damn grad student!
Anywho, I just get a small thrill out of reading such an old edition of Milton. BOOKS AND ALL THAT JAZZ.