I have not only recently read, but also studied, Part I of L. Edward Hazelbaker's unabridged revision of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Last summer I taught Pilgrim's Progress in my elementary Sunday School class and I wish I would have known of this book then. I have also done a college level research paper on Pilgrim's Progress. Not only does Hazelbaker make Pilgrim's Progress reader-friendly, he includes Bunyan's annotations in the text, as well as many annotations of his own. The annotations help the reader to experience more than a pilgrimage with Christian to Celestial City, but an in-depth Bible study as well. Other features the book includes are a brief description of Bunyan's life, a comparison outline of events in Parts I and II, and an index.

Access to Bunyan's scripture references gives the serious reader the opportunity to better his or her understanding of Bunyan's work while Hazelbaker's references and annotations also compliment the text. Hazelbaker, for example, elaborates on the importance of the seal that a Shining One (an angel) places upon Christian's forehead and on the Document given to him. Hazelbaker also offers his audience a clear and detailed understanding of the "Family" that resides in the palace called Beautiful. The reader will appreciate Hazelbaker's explanation of Bunyan's reference to "the goods of Rome" at Vanity Fair and why it would have been significant to the first readers of The Pilgrim's Progress. Hazelbaker also takes the time to explain to the reader why he uses the word "coat" for "bosom." These are only a few of the many helpful annotations Hazelbaker includes in his work.

In studying Hazelbaker's translation I referred to an early edition of Bunyan's several times. Each time I found Hazelbaker's translation true to Bunyan. Hazelbaker has made special effort to maintain the characteristic qualities and message of Bunyan's original work. In the translation process, he manages to preserve Bunyan's work by keeping himself removed from the text. This is his duty and obligation as a translator. His translation is, in all honesty, unabridged and non-paraphrased.

Of the 215 pages I have studied to date, I have found only one minor word choice in Hazelbaker's translation that I wish he would not have made. He translates Bunyan's "cartloads" with "truckloads" in the Swamp of Despondence episode. Although, by definition, "truckloads" is acceptable, it too easily causes confusion for the modern reader who thinks of pickups and tractor-trailers when he reads "truckloads." This is certainly a minor concern, but I mention it in an effort to objective.

Hazelbaker has done an exceptional job of making Bunyan's beautiful classic more appealing to the modern audience. This unabridged version is suitable for readers from middle and upper elementary ages to adults. I am glad to see that Hazelbaker has taken the time and made the effort to offer his audience a version of Pilgrim's Progress that is not watered-down and compromised. It definitely deserves a place in any library.

This was an enjoyable read for me. The allegory of Christian on the road to eternal life was interesting for the sense of adventure. It was also revealing in its depiction of experiences common to myself. I was surprised to see my own journey described so clearly in some parts. Just knowing that I am not alone in my experience is a great source of comfort in my spiritual relationship. John Bunyan (1628-1688) was a remarkable and courageous individual. He was a tinker inspired to preach the gospel. He was rewarded for his effort with a prison term lasting 12 years. His time in prison was well-spent because he wrote his first book "Grace Abounding" and started "Pilgrim's Progress" during his incarceration. Up until the 20th century, there was hardly an English-speaking household which did not own a copy of this book. It was often used as a reading primer. After the Bible (KJV), this classic allegory has been the best-selling Christian book and has influenced English literature and thought through the four centuries in which it has been in print. There are so many delightful and thought provoking tales in this book, there is not enough room to tell nearly enough of them. I will relate but one example: Presenting the subtle diversion which a desire for worldly success can bring, Bunyan writes, "'First,' said Mr Moneylove, 'becoming religious is a virtue, regardless of the means he employed to be so. Second - it's not unlawful to get a rich wife or to bring more business to his shop. Third - the man who gets these by becoming religious gets things that are good from them who are good by becoming good himself. So then, here are a good wife, good customers, and good gain; and he has gotten all these things by becoming religious, which is good. Becoming religious in order to get all these things, therefore, is a good and profitable intention.'"

To which, Bunyan counters, "Then Christian said, 'Even a babe in religion may answer ten thousand such questions. If it is unlawful to follow Christ to obtain loaves, as shown in John six, how much more abominable is it to make of Him and religion a stalking-horse to get and enjoy the world?'" If you are interested in Protestant preaching as it existed in 17th century England, or you would like to understand what the Christian journey is about, this book will be interesting to you.

I have owned the Pilgrim's Progress for years but have never read it. I started and then thought the book was boring and hard to read so I promptly quit. The original language is somewhat hard to understand so purchasing a book with notes and added definitions is helpful.
However, since beginning to really read it, I have found I was completely wrong. This is one of the most influential and captivating books I have ever read. The powerful allusions to the Bible are abundant and threaded in carefully. It paints a vivid picture of the Christian life and the struggles, temptations, and tests that come with that path.
Although it was mostly written for Christians, I am sure that this book can be enjoyable to almost anyone. To Christians, however, it is an encouragement. It helps you remember that there is a reason to press on and that you're not in it alone.
This book is an amazing illustration of a classic allegory. It is uplifting and inspiring. I am truly happy I read it.

I knew nothing about Mary Bunyan before I read Wendy Lawton's inspiring book, The Tinker's Daughter. Of course I knew of John Bunyan and Pilgrim's Progress, and I knew it had been written in prison, but that's where my knowledge ended.

As writers we are told to make the reader hear, see, smell, and touch what's in the story, and Wendy has done just that. She has brought history to life with all the senses and the reader is the beneficiary. I've never really thought about what it must be like to be sight impaired, but Wendy painted such an excellent picture of Mary, who was born blind, that I felt as if I had at one time been blind so I knew exactly what Mary was feeling. How powerful.

Wendy has a delightful way of telling a story bursting with characters and color. In this book she made me understand the myriad of emotions felt, not just by Mary, but by her siblings, father, step mother, and her new gypsy friends.

Mary's struggle to feel like she can do all things herself and not depend on anyone else is one that I have struggled with. If the truth be told, I still struggle with it. I learned much from Mary Bunyan, and was just as thrilled with her acceptance of the Lord as if she was someone dear to me here in 2002.

I read The Tinker's Daughter because Wendy is my friend. I came away from this book a better person and a fan as well as a friend. This is a must read for children and a double must read for adults.

In "The Tinker's Daughter," Wendy Lawton does an excellent job of capturing both the experiences and feelings a visually impaired person faces. Her descriptions look at life from a blind girl's point of view and instead of focusing only on the cliche auditory signals most people think of for a blind person, she focuses on Mary's identification of her world by smell as well, even the disgusting smells! Even more so,she nails the two major emotions a visually impaired person struggles with: fear and determination to overcome. She shows the pitfalls of the fierce independence many physically challenged people cling to, yet balances it with the necessity, that it isn't always a bad thing. Mary's ultimate solution is found in the source all of us need to depend on - Jesus Christ. All of these profound thoughts are tucked neatly into a sweet story about the daughter of the historical religious giant, John Bunyon. This book is powerful writing!

John Bunyan penned Pilgrim's Progress, a Christian classic, in the 17th century, but it is still being read today. What most of us do not know is that he had a daughter, Mary, blind from birth, who is one of his few children mentioned repeatedly by name. Mrs. Lawton speculates that the reason Pilgrim's Progress is so vivid is because of a father's need to describe life to sight-impaired Mary. This makes perfect sense. Lawton has done her homework, making this book authentic, right down to the language, the feelings of someone blind in this century, and the everyday life. If you don't know what a jonguleur is (a traveling minstrel,) you can find out in the glossary, which makes learning history easy for children. History is a story of people, and sometimes authors forget to "tell me a story" while giving details and facts. Lawton is a master storyteller. You can trust the quality of this book, and it is a must for every Christian library catering to children.

This was my favorite book growing up, the illistrations are great and the story keeps you on your toes. Great bedtime story book as something is always happening (beware you can't finish in night though). Dragons, demons, giants, dark woods, and angels. A good introduction to the Christian walk in a way a small child can enjoy and still savor as an adult.

John Bunyan has created a story that will, regardless of your religious affiliation, profoundly move your heart. The author has created settings and characters that boldly reflect the best and worst of all things experienced within a lifetime, for all time. Bunyan's book is as relevant and necessary today as at any point since being written in 1676. If you read only one version of Pilgrim's Progress, make sure that "Dangerous Journey," is it. The poetic flow and wonderful illustrations grab and hold onto to you at word one and never let go.

I found the book to be very good 12 years ago. I read it to my children when they were able to understand it. I also found the illustrations to be extrodinary and helped explain the story very well. I am going to purchase this book again today for my daughter.

I can't say that I have read this book...yet, but what I can say is that anyone who endeavours to read any work of Dr. Haykin is in for a real treat. He was my prof. for Church History, and a man whom I am thoroughly impressed with. He is a humble, diplomatic, professional person with a strong heart for God and His glory.
His knowledge on Church History is incredible, especially his understanding of the Reformation, the Puritans, and the Particular Baptist movements. But he cannot be limited there even. I could literally listen to him speak for hours.
I strongly recommend anything by Dr. Haykin as you will become well informed on the topic that he writes about, whether it's Cromwell, Bunyon, Edwards or anyone else.

God bless and enjoy.

The Pilgrim's Progress is the 2nd most famous book in the world. John Bunyan is a genious and the arguments in the book are very convincing and hard to deny. Anyone who believes in "free will" would be turned around if they read this book. It clearly explains that we do not choose God, He chooses us, or rather, he CHOSE us before the foundations of the world. Everything in his book is scriptual and I love it!

John Bunyan's journey toward saving faith parallels my own more closely than any other fellow sinner's. When I first read his story, I grabbed a pen and filled the margins, and all the while my heart whispered, "Comrade!" At once, I was comforted by the realization that though Bunyan was long gone, there had been another human being who had known the same fearsome battles waged on our behalf by the God who never relinquishes what belongs to Him. Those years when I had felt strange and apart from other believers, suddenly became "safe" to recall. For anyone who is still holding on to the arrogant belief that a person chooses God, rather than the other way around, Bunyan's story is for you. It puts all arguments to rest, leaving only humility and worship in its wake.

I have read many of John Bunyan's well known and lesser know writings and I will testify that they are filled with God's Holy Spirit and will further your relationship with Christ. P.S. I would like to locate and purchase a book entitled "A Treasury of Bunyan". Well worht your time and money! csthomas@sprintparanet.com

I have read all of Bunyan's major and lesser known works and wish to convey that you'll receive a tremendous blessing from God through these Holy Spirit inspired writings. PS I wish to locate and purchase a book titled "A Treasury of Bunyan". Please write if you know of a copy.

"The Works of John Bunyan", edited by George Offor

This review intends to inform readers of the contents of these three volumes so they may buy these books without the risk of guessing. Fortunately for me I guessed correctly!

To answer your first question, reader: Yes, "Pilgrim's Progress" IS INCLUDED in volume 3! Part I, Christian's journey, begins on page 89 after an 88 page introduction by the editor. Part II, Christiana's journey begins on page 168. And part III, The Life and Death of Mr. Badman, begins later in the volume on page 586. All parts are included. (Note that the latter is not commonly included as a part of "Pilgrim's Progress" in most books.)

Having said the above, if you are *only* looking for "Pilgrim's Progress", especially parts I and II, then these collected works are not for you. These books are physically HEAVY to hold, much too heavy for comfortable reading; you will need a stand, table or desk to avoid cramping your hands while reading.

The print, while quite legible, is small; some sections seem 6pt or smaller, especially the footnotes. As is common with many reprints of early editions, a few letters per page are faint, and a few have slight blotches such as a filled "e" center or a slightly thicker "t" crossbar, etc. As mentioned before, the print is still quite legible; if you are looking for the collected works please do not let the print deter you!

The sturdy binding and covers on the volumes handles the unexpectedly heavy contents well. I suppose the dimensions are roughly 9x7x1.125".

The copyright information says "Reprinted from the edition of 1854 published by W.G Blackie and Son, Glasgow". Reprints from the middle of the 19th century somehow seem appropriate for the writings of Bunyan; it gives one a feeling of history. And I *DO* love old books!

The editor describes the difficulty of obtaining 1st edition prints of Bunyan, especially since most editions were cheaply and badly printed "for the poor". Another interesting editorial comment is that Bunyan was somewhat of a misogynist.

As expected from a 1854 reprint, there are many woodcuts throughout the volumes, and they are excellent.

The 19th century compiler and editor, George Offor, supplies many footnotes. The footnotes, especially in the "Pilgrim's Progress", are often of a devotional nature such as "Take heed reader!", etc. But there are also many other footnotes clarifying rare words, doctrinal points, cross references, circumstances of writing, etc. Many of the footnotes have initials next to them, presumably indicating selected editorial comments of other commentators. (I was unable to find a clear list relating the initials to full names.)

Volumes I & II are entitled "Experimental, Doctrinal and Practical". Volume III is titled "Allegorical, Figurative and Symbolical".

To help you decide for yourself whether to purchase these books, here are the contents:

Volume I: "Experimental, Doctrinal And Practical" (771 pages)

- Grace Abounding To The Chief Of Sinners (his personal testimony)

- Bunyan's Prison Meditations

- The Jerusalem Sinner Saved

- The Greatness Of The Soul

- The Work Of Jesus Christ As An Advocate

- Christ: A Complete Saviour

- Come And Welcome To Jesus Christ

- Of Justification By An Imputed Righteousness

- Saved By Grace

- The Strait Gate

- Light For Them That Sit In Darkness

- A Treatise On The Fear Of God

- The Doctrine Of The Law And Grace Unfolded

- Israel's Hope Encouraged

- A Discourse Touching Prayer

- The Saint's Privilege And Profit

- The Acceptable Sacrifice

- Paul's Departure And Crown

- The Desire Of The Righteous Granted

Volume II: "Experimental, Doctrinal And Practical" (758 pages)

- The Saints' Knowledge Of Christ's Love

- Of Antichrist And His Ruin

- The Resurrection Of The Dead, And Eternal Judgement

- Some Gospel Truths Opened According To The Scriptures

- A Vindication Of Gospel Truths Opened According To The Scriptures

- A Discourse On The Pharisee And The Publican

- A Defence Of The Doctrine Of Justification By Faith In Jesus Christ

- Reprobation Asserted

- Questions About The Nature And Perpetuity Of The Seventh-Day Sabbath

- Of The Trinity And A Christian

- Of The Law And A Christian

- Scriptural Poems

- An Exposition On The First Ten Chapters Of Genesis

- A Holy Life: The Beauty Of Christianity

- Christian Behaviour

- A Caution To Stir Up To Watch Against Sin

- A Discourse Of The Building, NaTure, Excellecy, And Government Of The House Of God

- Bunyan On The Terms Of Communion, And Fellowship Of Christians, At The Table Of The Lord

- A Confession Of My Faith, And A Reason Of My Practice

- Differences In Judgement About Water Baptism No Bar To Communion

- Peaceable Principles And True

- On The Love Of Christ

- A Case Of Conscience Resolved

- John Bunyan's Catechism (called "Instruction For The Ignorant")

- Seasonable Counsel

- An Exhortation To Peace And Unity

- Bunyan's Last Sermon

Volume III: "Allegorical, Figurative And Symbolical" (790 pages)

(Note: the first 88 pages of this volume, called chapters I-IX, comprise an introduction written by the editor describing the writing of "Pilgrim's Progress" itself. That which you and I know as "Pilgrim's Progress", the journey of Christian begins on page 89 and is labeled "First Part" in the volume's table of contents. The "Second Part", the story of Christiana, begins on page 168. The third part appears later in the volume, beginning on page 586, and is labeled as "The Life And Death Of Mr. Badman.")

The editor writes the following introduction:

- The Pilgrim's Progress From This World To That Which Is To Come

- Chapter I: Life A Pilgrimage ...

- Chapter II: ... having been written in prison ...

- Chapter III: Bunyan's Extraordinary Qualifications To Write The Progress

- Chapter IV: Bunyan's release from jail ...

- Chapter V: The inquiry "Was Bunyan assisted in writing?" ... No.

- Chapter VI: A bibliographical account of the Progress' editions ...

- Chapter VII: An account of the versions, commentaries, ...

- Chapter VIII:The opinions of learned men ...

- Chapter IX: Obervations upon ... some prominent parts

- First Part (this is the actual "Pilgrim's Progress")

- Second Part

- The Holy War Made By Shaddai Upon Diabolus, For The Regaining Of The Metropolis Of The World

- The Heavenly Footman

- The Holy City (Or "The New Jerusalem")

- Solomon's Temple Spiritualized

- Discourse On The House Of The Forest Of Lebanon

- The Water Of Life

- The Barren Fig-Tree

- The Life And Death Of Mr. Badman (This May Be Considered The Third Part Of The "Pilgrim's Progress")

- A Few Sighs From Hell

- One Thing Is Needful

- Ebal And Gerizim

- A Book For Boys And Girls

To date I have read many of John Bunyan's writings including P-Progress, Mr. Bad man, Heavenly footman, Grace Abounding, The ruin of Antichrist, The barren figtree, The Holy War, many poems, and many more writings. I can tell you this much, any money you would spend to puchase any of Bunyan's writings will be money very ell spent. Just make sure they are Bunyan's writings and not a writing ABOUT his writings.

The story starts in the City of Turmoil where Peter,Anna and Patience lived. It is a great noisy,dirty places where all the people are cruel,greedy and selfish.Sometime later, they see a stranger.They are fascinated because they have never meet someone so beautiful kind who has the smiling face and eyes. So,begins the journey of a small companions who must face all the danger along the way.Along the journey they meet very nice people as well as very nasty ones.And the nice ones more than make up for the nasty ones.Eventually the reach the Land of Far Beyond, only to discover they can't enter the City of Happiness because no-one wearing a burden may enter.For anyone carrying a load of badness can't be truly happy,and so has no place in the city.They're saved by meeting a stranger who has the kindest nad wisest face that they had ever seen. The Stranger is Prince of Peace who carries the burdens of the whole world.The Prince is pity and understanding enough.....,enough faith and love to save the whole world.

The Land of Far-Beyond is a great book!!If you are looking for a good Christian book, this is for you!!Parents, this is a great gift!!

P.S. Really!!!!

My earliest childhood memories are of reading every Enid Blyton book I could get hold of. Secret 7 and Mallory Towers were prime favourites. I think I was about 7 or 8 when I stumbled upon "The land of Far Beyond" and initially thought it a very strange departure from the usual adventure stuff. The story is about some children who meet a stranger and then depart on a long journey, on route having to contend with certain challenges,some seemingly insurmountable. However as I read I got more absorbed into this fairly dark tale of a long ardous journey involving some lovable and some not-so loveable characters.The end I shouldn't reveal but will promise to please all. I would like to say that this story so amazingly written moves the reader either young or old between incredible depths of despair, hope and joy and at the same time giving valuable insight into our attempts to achieve moral character as we grow older. EB is a true genius - she makes the reader feel every single human emotion created,the only fault being that the book has an end.Anybody with a ounce of curiousity regarding the why and how of good vs evil should have a go at this. Enough said.

In this classic work, John Bunyan paints a detailed picture of the Christian life/walk, giving true-to-life insights and experiences. The despair, sorrows, trials and temptations that a believer may face are depicted in an allegorical manner, as well as the hope, joy, and salvation found in Jesus Christ. The main character Christian (once named Graceless) sets out on a lifelong journey from the City of Destruction, where his family disowned him, and encounters many persons and difficulties along the way to the Celestial City (heaven). The characters he meets are given names that reflect their mindset or what temptation they bring. At times he stumbles and at times he perseveres, but all by the grace of God. The second portion of the book tells of the conversion and subsequent sojourn of the wife (Christiana) and children of Christian. The discussions of Christian in the first part and Christiana and her companions in the second part are very interesting, as they defend their faith and explain their purpose to those they meet along the way. The book is quite different from your ordinary novel, and has many interesting words of wisdom for the Christian life. Readers should be aware that some of the language is antiquated and has unfamiliar usages, so its a little bit of an adjustment to read.

A letter to Marvin Minsky about this book:

I urge you tolook at a remarkable book by the English Puritain John Bunyan(1628-1688), "The Pilgrim's Progress", which is one of the great evangelical Christian classics, though clearly that is not why it interests me and should interest you (although I AM interested in the puzzle that is the religious sense, which even the irreligious feel, and this book can give remarkable insight into that as well).

Rather its fascination lies in the pilgrimage it depicts, or in the fact that human traits, vices, virtues, &c are PERSONIFIED as particular individuals who are their living and speaking epitome, and who are encountered along the way in revealing situations.

Bunyan's hero is appropriately named Christian. Someone once wrote that "Christian's journey is timeless as he travels from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, meeting such characters as Pliable, Talkative, Giant Despair, Evangelist, Worldly-Wiseman, Faithful, Ignorance and Hopeful."

At first this personification is merely amusing, even a bit annoying (as caricatures or truly stereotypical people can be); but after a while I found myself enthralled because I realized that the effect of this odd literary device was to give unmatched insight into the nature of such traits. The force of the whole thing comes from the fact that one journeys about in - literally INSIDE of - what is both a comprehensive and finite moral and psychological landscape (a "psycho-topography"), very much as though one were INSIDE the human mind and your "Society of the Mind" was embodied in the set of actors. This is more or less the opposite or an inversion of the 'real world' of real people, who merely SHARE those attributes or of whom the attributes are merely PIECES; in "Pilgrim's Progress", by contrast, the attributes are confined in their occurrence to the actors who are their entire, unique, pure, and active embodiment, and humanness, to be recognized at all, has to be rederived or mentally reconstructed from the essential types.

The effect, for me, was something like experiencing a multidimensional scaling map that depicts the space of the set of human personality types, by being injected directly - mentally and bodily - into it by means of virtual reality technology.

So Bunyan's book has something of the interest to a psychologist, neuroscientist, or philosopher that Edwin Abbot's "Flatland" has to a mathematician.

I don't mean to overpraise "Pilgrim's Progress", of course; it was written for theological rather than scientific purposes, and has conspicuous limitations for that reason. But its interest to a student of the mind who looks at it at from the right point of view can be profound.

- Patrick Gunkel

Pilgrim's Progress is without a doubt one of the true classics of time--an allegory that has remained a best seller years after its introduction.

My first introduction to Pilgrim's Progress was as a child in parochial school. I had to do a book report on it in 5th grade and ended up reading numerous times for various projects throughout grade school.

The reader follows the main character--aptly named "Christian"--on his journey to the Celestial City.

Along the way, Christian passes through the many trials of life, symbolized by intruiging characters and places along the way. An early temptation is the "City of Destruction", which Christian narrowly escapes with his life. The various characters are perhaps the most fascinating portion of the book--Pliable, Giant Despair, Talkative, Faithful, Evangelist, and numerous others provide the reader with a continual picture of the various forces at work to distract (or perhaps, encourage)Christian on his ultimate mission.

Of course, the theology (for those of the Christian faith) of Pilgrim's Progress is a constant source of debate, the book is nonetheless a classic of great English writing.

It's not a quick read--that's for sure--however, I certainly would recommend that one read it in its original form. Don't distort the beauty of the old English language with a modern translation.

I read The Pilgrim's Progress as a child and recently reread it in order to do a comparative essay on allegorical journeys for my english class. The other book I read for the assignment was Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, and I found that Bunyan's novel equaled or exceeded Conrad's in every way. While Conrad used far more symbolism and allusions, I felt that Bunyan still did a better job of making the reader identify with his character's journey. The Pilgrim's Progress is a wonderfully written story that inspires hope and confidence in God to help his people though their own journeys.

"The Pilgrim's Progress" is widely known and widely imitated. Perhaps a bit too widely. While the book itself is stunning, having seen, heard, or read so many attempts to imitate it, I found that the original effect of the story was lessened for me.

By all means, this book should be read -- it is in itself a great work of literature, and it is a prime example of Puritan thought. Be aware, however, that much of it will seem trite and worn -- not because of anything inherently wrong with Bunyan's writing -- primarily because we have all heard so many poor imitations that it will be difficult to put them aside.

However, this book still warrants a reading for the simple fact that it is a great story! I shall be re-reading this in the not-too-distant future, hopefully better prepared to dismiss the memories of the imitations and to appreciate the genius of Bunyan's allegory.

Read it!

Pilgrim's Progress has been accepted by the world as a classic piece of literature. However, just as Handel's Messiah is recognised as a magnificent work without people really appreciating the message it brings so Pilgrim's Progress can suffer from its own fame. Here we have the stories of believers moving towards heaven. They have ups and downs. They suffer pain and experience pleasure. All the time the christian reader is being led forward into experimental practical christian avenues. Despair, doubt, backsliding, the temptations of the world, helps from above and support from others on the Way all make this work so vital and relevant. Both parts, Christian's journey and Christiana's are wonderful in their own ways. For the past four years I have preferred the second part. Read it every year at least once. If you must read only one other book next to your Bible let it be this one, (Or Thomas Watson on All things for Good) but do read it all. A classic that is beyond review.

I'm not a Pilgrim's Progress expert, but this doesn't seem to be the best edition of this book. There are footnotes (including Bunyan's own notes) but they are often "late"; for example, footnotes to explain the archaic meaning of the word are often included on the second or third appearance of the word. Also, the editor has included indicators as to who is speaking in each paragraph (much like a stage script) but it is not consistent.

Shop around and see if you can find a better edition of Pilgrim's Progress.

I Corinthians 13 says the following: If I have all faith as to
remove mountains, but have not love, then I am nothing...

Bunyan's allegory about Christian's journey is
predominantly a journey about faith....He doesn't really
talk about one's day to day struggles, and the need to
bear each other's burdens....It is primarily a solo kind of
journey here, but this should not be too surprising
considering that the book is an allegory about one's
own INNER struggle to avoid temptation, as typified by
"the world". In Christ our flesh has been crucified, so we
are not to dwell on earthly things.

I think the book succeeds admirably in admonishing the
Christian to avoid temptation and stay on the path that is
narrow and straight.

With that said, this is a remarkably readable version, that
is at the same time true to the original 17th century text.
Only spelling and punctuation have been changed to aid
the modern reader. Grammar and paragraphing have not
been altered. Where a word's meaning has changed over
time, its archaic meaning is included as a footnote. Also,
where Bunyan quotes from the Bible, directly or indirectly,
the passages quoted from are cited. The editors have
done a remarkable job, although truthfully I haven't looked
at all the other versions out there....For me, this version
does the job.