Three and a half centuries ago, John Milton gave us the best epic poem ever written in English. I want to share it with you by performing it from memory.

Paradise Lost is the interlocking tale of two great rebellions: Satan's armed rebellion against God, leading to his fall from heaven; and Adam and Eve's choice to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge, leading to their expulsion from the garden in Eden. It's a story about power and free will and responsibility, it's a story about hate, and it's a story about love.

Paradise Lost is divided internally into twelve "books" (we would probably call them "chapters" today). Book 1, after a short introduction with Milton sharing his intention and the scope of his vision, jumps right into the middle of the story, as Satan picks himself up off the lake of fire in Hell, where he's been thrown after his failed rebellion. He converses with his chief co-conspirator, Beelzebub, and resolves to continue his opposition to God in whatever way he can devise. He gathers the rest of his fallen legions, now demons (which Milton identifies at length with the various gods that competed with Jehovah for the worship of the Israelites), and they, led by the great architect Mammon, build Satan a new palace in Hell.

This event will last about an hour and a half - that's about fifteen minutes for me to introduce the poem and summarize book 1, fifty minutes for the recitation, and about twenty minutes for audience discussion/Q&A.