Paradise Lost – John Milton

 When he was sixty years old, famous English poet John Milton (1608-1674) completely lost his sight, and fell into extreme poverty.

To get some money, in 1669 he sold the publishing rights of his epic poem "Paradise Lost" to London printer and bookseller Samuel Simmons, for just ten pounds. Five pounds immediately, and five pounds after the sale of three editions of "Paradise Lost" (four and a half thousand copies).

After her husband's death, Milton's third wife, Elizabeth, sold all publishing rights of "Paradise Lost" to the same printer – for just eight pounds.

And this skillful bookseller eventually became rich. He invested money in just one work - and that was only eighteen pounds.