Milton

In an age when personal histories were rarely recorded, John Milton stands out as one of the few seventeenth‑century writers whose life can be pieced together with surprising detail. Close relatives such as his nephew Edward Phillips, together with the diligent antiquarian John Aubrey, collected anecdotes, dates and even the poet’s own autobiographical notes, creating a surprisingly vivid portrait of his inner world. Their careful observations, supplemented by later scholarly work, give listeners a rare glimpse into the everyday rhythms of a man whose verses would later shape English literature.

Milton’s story begins in the bustling heart of London, where his father ran a respectable scrivener’s shop beneath the sign of the Spread Eagle. Born on 9 December 1608, the future poet benefited from both a solid civic upbringing and a cultivated home environment, receiving a private tutor alongside his day‑schooling at St Paul’s. Surrounded by music, literature and the vibrant intellectual life of the city, young Milton’s early education set the stage for the remarkable literary career that would follow.