"What was John Milton really like as a human being? What can we learn about his poems from seeing them in the context of the fundamental nature of their author? There is an intimate and complex relation between a close understanding of a poem and a deep understanding of its maker. This book explores that relation with respect to the writings and the nature of Milton. The "inner life" of this book is that mysterious world of motives, drives, and action that takes place within. It is where we establish and come to terms with our values, with our drives, and with our sense of self-esteem. It is where we mediate with the world outside of our selves, with the world of other human beings, and with the world of nature. It is where we face our most important crises and where we seek our ultimate guidance in resolving our crucial problems. These are the topics of this book. It offers a fresh and original way of thinking about Milton and his writings."--Book jacket.