“[A] learned, meditative book . . . . In the discussion of postmodernism and information theory Martin’s range is impressive . . . .” — Gordon Teskey, Modern Language Quarterly
“[A]n ambitious and wholly necessary attempt to align the seventeenth-century ‘world view’ with the postmodern. . . . [Martin] is to be commended for the vigor and reach of her arguments.” — James Egan, Seventeenth-Century News
“[A]n important contribution to the theory of allegory, a provocative application of science to literary analysis, and stimulating analyses of many aspects of Paradise Lost, some of which break significantly new ground.” — Mary R. Bowman, Renaissance Quarterly
“Martin’s rhetoric is fascinatingly involved . . . . The notations in the margin . . . acknowledge the richness of Martin’s book, a book that is closely packed and deeply thoughtful. It ushers a distinctive voice into Milton scholarship.” — Balachandra Rajan, Renaissance and Reformation
“Professor Martin’s work in bringing Walter Benjamin’s notion of baroque allegory to a sustained reading of Paradise Lost is certainly valuable. From it and from many of Martin’s insightful readings, scholars will take away a more nuanced understanding of Miltonic allegory and its foundations in the history of ideas.” — Jeffrey Powers-Beck, South Atlantic Review
“The book achieves real success in recognizing the need to preserve Paradise Lost’s cultural context and at the same time reading obliquely, using contemporary theoretical insights about writing and meaning to offer a better grasp of the intimations Milton had about the new language required by a new world.” — Andrew Escobedo, Milton Quarterly
“The Ruins of Allegory is a highly stimulating book, most valuable for its uncanny way of finding fresh access to the daring, experimental quality of Milton’s ground-breaking epic . . . .[A] valuable contribution to Milton studies, provoking readers to see Paradise Lost as both contemporary and canonical.” — Richard J. DuRocher, Southern Humanities Review
“Martin has written a provocative study which is sure to stimulate further debate over the nature of Milton’s uses of allegory in Paradise Lost. It will prompt critics to reconsider their assumptions about Milton and allegory” — David Loewenstein, University of Wisconsin, Madison
“With sophistication and insight, Martin provides a wholly innovative, at times brilliant, study of Miltonic allegory. Ruins of Allegory will have far-ranging effect on future analysis.” — Albert C. Labriola, Duquesne University