Legacy and influence Once Paradise Lost was published, Milton's stature as an epic poet was immediately recognised. He cast a formidable shadow over English poetry in the 18th and 19th centuries; he was often judged equal or superior to all other English poets, including Shakespeare. Very early on, though, he was championed by Whigs, and decried by Tories: with the regicide Edmund Ludlow he was claimed as an early Whig,Kevin Sharpe, Remapping Early Modern England: The Culture of Seventeenth-century Politics (2000), p. 7. while the High Tory Anglican minister Luke Milbourne lumped Milton in with other "Agents of Darkness" such as John Knox, George Buchanan, Richard Baxter, Algernon Sidney and John Locke.J. P. Kenyon, Revolution Principles (1977), p. 77. The political ideas of Milton, Locke, Sidney, and James Harrington strongly influenced the Radical Whigs, whose ideology in turn was central to the American Revolution.Robert Middlekauff (2005), The Great Cause: The American Revolution, 1763–1789, Revised and Expanded Edition, Oxford University Press, , pp. 51, 136ff Modern scholars of Milton's life, politics, and work are known as Miltonists: "his work is the subject of a very large amount of academic scholarship".
legacy and influence once paradise lost was published milton's stature as an epic poet was immediately recognised he cast a formidable shadow over english poetry in the 18th and 19th centuries; he was often judged equal or superior to all other english poets including shakespeare very early on though he was championed by whigs and decried by tories with the regicide edmund ludlow he was claimed as an early whigkevin sharpe remapping early modern england the culture of seventeenth-century politics (2000) p 7 while the high tory anglican minister luke milbourne lumped milton in with other "agents of darkness" such as john knox george buchanan richard baxter algernon sidney and john lockej p kenyon revolution principles (1977) p 77 the political ideas of milton locke sidney and james harrington strongly influenced the radical whigs whose ideology in turn was central to the american revolutionrobert middlekauff (2005) the great cause the american revolution 1763–1789 revised and expanded edition oxford university press  pp 51 136ff modern scholars of milton's life politics and work are known as miltonists "his work is the subject of a very large amount of academic scholarship"