Areopagitica
About this book
Areopagitica: A speech for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing to the Parliament of England is John Milton's famous tract against censorship. Published in 1644, Areopagitica is named after a speech by Isocrates, a fifth century BC Athenian orator. The work is counted as one of the most influential and inspired defenses of the right to freedom of expression in history. It is also a personal issue for Milton who was submitted to censorship himself when he tried to publish his defenses of divorce, radical works for the time that gained no quarter with censors. Distributed as a pamphlet, Milton's powerful arguments against 1643's Licensing Order note that classical Greek and Roman society was never subjected to such censorship, and he uses many classical and biblical references to reinforce his argument.
Reader Profile
3.8/5 · 2686 readers · 73 pages · ≈ 1 h 21 m · Demanding
How long does it take to read Areopagitica?
About ≈ 1 h 21 m — 73 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is Areopagitica?
73 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is Areopagitica?
It sits on the Philosophy shelves.
Is Areopagitica in the public domain?
Yes — it is free to read and share.
Where does Areopagitica take place?
It is set in Great Britain during 17th century.
Who wrote Areopagitica?
John Milton.
Where can I read Areopagitica online for free?
It is in the public domain — read it free on Open Library
Why has Areopagitica been challenged or banned?
It appears on Wikipedia's list of the most commonly challenged books in the United States.