The Arms of the Family : The Significance of John Milton's Relatives and Associates

John T. Shawcross's groundbreaking new study of John Milton is an essential work of scholarship for those who seek a greater understanding of Milton, his family, and his social and political world. Shawcross uses extensive new archival research to scrutinize several misunderstood elements of Milton's life, including his first marriage and his relationship with his brother, brother-in-law and nephews. Shawcross examines Milton's numerous royalist connections, complicating the conventional view of Milton as eminent Puritan and raising questions about the role his connections played in his relatively mild punishment after the Restoration. Unique in its methodology, The Arms of the Family is required reading not only for students of Milton but also for students of biography in general. Entire chapters dedicated to Milton's brother Christopher, his brother-in-law Thomas Agar, and his nephews Edward and John Phillips, illuminate the domestic forces that helped shape Milton's point of view. The final chapters reconsider Milton's political and sociological ideology in the light of these domestic forces and in the religious context of his three major poetic works: Paradise Lost, Paradise Regain'd, and Samson Agonistes . The Arms of the Family is a seminal work by a preeminent Miltonist, marking a major advance in Milton studies and serving as a model for those engaged in family history, social history, and the early modern period. Among the most celebrated figures in British literature, John Milton has inspired legions of poets and essayists. Milton's poetry and prose reflect both the exhilaration of the Renaissance and the bloody discord of the English Civil War as perceived through the eyes of a Protestant with republican ideals. This combination of prodigious talent and the mercurial era from which it emerged has made Milton a frequent subject of literary biographers. Compelled by the desire to understand Milton as purely the product of his historical milieu, biographers have neglected the domestic and personal influences on his life and art. While many biographies have examined Milton's life in the context of the political, social, and religious attitudes in Britain during the tumultuous seventeenth century, very few facts of the poet's private life are known. The Arms of the Family amplifies author John T. Shawcross's earlier investigation of Milton's personal relationships and attitudes in his biography, John Milton: The Self and the World. Unlike any other scholar, Shawcross introduces a crucial element previously neglected by biographers: the role that family and friends played in sculpting the revered author.The family was a key factor in Milton's personal and artistic development, Shawcross argues, shaping his identity and influencing his opinions, expectations, and actions. The Arms of the Family is an unprecedented exploration into the lives of Milton's relatives and family associates and the ways that their political and theological opinions may have affected Milton's literary and political thought. Shawcross explodes half-truths and misconceptions about Milton with primary, archival evidence from court hearings, debts, wills, and other public records pertaining to the poet and his relatives. This new research reveals the unexplored contours of Milton's relationships with his children and nephews, his financial activities, and his interactions with the unpredictable English government. Some of the author's most stimulating insights concern the Parliamentarian poet's interaction with his Royalist family members and connections, among them his own brother Christopher, his brother-in-law Thomas Agar, and John Scudamore, Charles I's ambassador to France. As the first comprehensive examination of the family and friends that molded Milton's perception of the world throughout his life, The Arms of the Family adds an essential new dimension to our understanding of the poet and his work. Among The Most Celebrated Figures In British Literature, John Milton Has Inspired Legions Of Poets And Essayists. Milton's Poetry And Prose Reflect Both The Exhilaration Of The Renaissance And The Bloody Discord Of The English Civil War As Perceived Through The Eyes Of A Protestant With Republican Ideals. This Combination Of Prodigious Talent And The Mercurial Era From Which It Emerged Has Made Milton A Frequent Subject Of Literary Biographers. Compelled By The Desire To Understand Milton As Purely The Product Of His Historical Milieu, Biographers Have Neglected The Domestic And Personal Influences On His Life And Art. While Many Biographies Have Examined Milton's Life In The Context Of The Political, Social, And Religious Attitudes In Britain During The Tumultuous Seventeenth Century, Very Few Facts Of The Poet's Private Life Are Known. The Arms Of The Family Amplifies Author John T. Shawcross's Earlier Investigation Of Milton's Personal Relationships And Attitudes In His Biography, John Milton: The Self And The World. Unlike Any Other Scholar, Shawcross Introduces A Crucial Element Previously Neglected By Biographers: The Role That Family And Friends Played In Sculpting The Revered Author.--jacket. Expanding The Biography -- Christopher Milton: Royalist And Brother -- Thomas Agar: Royalist And Brother-in-law -- Edward Phillips: Royalist And Nephew -- John Phillips: Nonroyalist And Nephew -- John Milton -- Royalist Connections, But Parliamentarian -- Protestant And Familial Literary Implications. John T. Shawcross. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [261]-287) And Index.

John T. Shawcross's groundbreaking new study of John Milton is an essential work of scholarship for those who seek a greater understanding of Milton, his family, and his social and political world. Shawcross uses extensive new archival research to scrutinize several misunderstood elements of Milton's life, including his first marriage and his relationship with his brother, brother-in-law and nephews. Shawcross examines Milton's numerous royalist connections, complicating the conventional view of Milton as eminent Puritan and raising questions about the role his connections played in his relatively mild punishment after the Restoration.

Unique in its methodology, The Arms of the Family is required reading not only for students of Milton but also for students of biography in general. Entire chapters dedicated to Milton's brother Christopher, his brother-in-law Thomas Agar, and his nephews Edward and John Phillips, illuminate the domestic forces that helped shape Milton's point of view. The final chapters reconsider Milton's political and sociological ideology in the light of these domestic forces and in the religious context of his three major poetic works: Paradise Lost, Paradise Regain'd, and Samson Agonistes. The Arms of the Family is a seminal work by a preeminent Miltonist, marking a major advance in Milton studies and serving as a model for those engaged in family history, social history, and the early modern period.

Not a great deal has been added to our knowledge of Christopher Milton since Masson first published his Life of Milton, most material relating to his legal activities.