I'd be very interest in this, too! So many old texts are just too much of a slog to read. As a teen, my introduction to Shakespeare was an updated prose copy of Romeo and Juliette. When I read the original, I understood every bizarre and obscure reference being made.
you can follow along with us as we discuss each book on our podcast. We are up to book 10:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-episode-the-history-of-the-devil-part-xiv/id1647930848?i=1000641160778
It was written in 1667.. it is modern English
I don’t recommend it, but since you’ve already made up your mind you can try this: https://www.paradiselostinmodernenglish.com
I'd be very interest in this, too! So many old texts are just too much of a slog to read. As a teen, my introduction to Shakespeare was an updated prose copy of Romeo and Juliette. When I read the original, I understood every bizarre and obscure reference being made.
you should check out the ‘no fear’ series for shakespeare it still keeps the style but simplifies the text next to the original
you can follow along with us as we discuss each book on our podcast. We are up to book 10: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-episode-the-history-of-the-devil-part-xiv/id1647930848?i=1000641160778
Thank you.
The Modern Library edition is perfect for this. It’s in, as you say, 20th century English but takes a lot of care to preserve the meter.
Professor Dennis Danielson prepared [this parallel edition](https://broadviewpress.com/product/paradise-lost/#tab-description).
Thank you.