Ten of the best visions of heaven in literature

For the Guardian, John Mullan named ten of the best visions of heaven in literature.

One book on the list:

Paradise Lost by John Milton

The fallen angels wallow in darkness, and God watches from "the pure empyrean" while "ambrosial fragrance filled / All heaven". Milton imagines it as a place of divine choral music, "blest voices, uttering joy". The angels twang their harps "with preamble sweet / Of charming symphony".

Read about another book on the list.

Satan from Paradise Lost is among the 50 greatest villains in literature according to the (London) Telegraph and appears on John Mullan's list ten of the best devils in literature.

Paradise Lost also appears on Mullan's lists of ten of the best pieces of fruit in literature and ten of the best visions of hell in literature; it is also on Diane Purkiss' critic's chart of the best books on the English Civil War.

--Marshal Zeringue