Dominion undeserved: Milton and the perils of creation

Abstract

It may refl ect poorly on my character that I wrote a book about the loss of happy homelands while living in a number of delightful places. I started this project at the University of Virginia under the supervision of James Nohrnberg, Gordon Braden, and Katharine Eisaman Maus. It is hard to imagine a trio of scholars more impressively learned and eclectic in their approaches and temperaments. Each of them has taught me unique les-sons that continue to shape my teaching and scholarship. During the for-mative stages of the project, Jennifer Wicke offered her characteristically incisive advice, and she has remained a stalwart ally and mentor. I will always cherish the camaraderie and intellectual excitement I shared with my fellow graduate students at Virginia. Michael Genovese, Omaar Hena, David Sigler, and I frequently transformed the Shebeen pub in Charlot-tesville into a salon where we discussed one another’s work. Sara Bryant arrived at UVa just as I was starting this project and bore with me patiently as I completed it. She has continued to put up with my antics as I have em-barked upon life as an assistant professor.