I finally finished Paradise Lost: Smyrna, 1922. It was a great book, so I guess the reason I quit reading it before was my own short attention span more than anything else. That said, it isn't a book I would read again any time soon.
It was just as compelling and readable as any other of Giles Milton's non-fiction books. The difference is that Paradise Lost had a much more depressing and somber subject matter than anything he had written before. During the last third of the book, it brought me to the verge of tears.
The book is very well-written, but some of Milton's distinctive writing style is missing. Although the author's fingerprints are all over it, the book lacks any of his humor. In his previous books, he could always manage to find some otherwise insignificant detail in the story that would make me laugh. Often, the humor was a key ingredient to what made reading his books so addictive. I can understand where Milton is coming from because adding any humor would not only undermine the book's serious tone, but also be inappropriate and insulting to the victims of the real life tragedy it depicts. Giles Milton's goal was not to be charming or humorous when he wrote Paradise Lost. I just prefer his books when they are lighter reads.
While not Milton's best work, Paradise Lost: Smyrna, 1922 is worthwhile reading. If you have never read any of Giles Milton's books, I would suggest beginning with something happier like the ever-entertaining Big Chief Elizabeth, which will give you a better idea of what most of his books are like.
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