Other editions of book The Pilgrims Progress

The Pilgrim's Progress is arguably one of the most widely known allegories ever written. At one time it was considered the most widely read and translated book apart from the Bible in the English language. Missionaries commonly translated it immediately after the Bible. The charm of the work, giving it wide appeal among readers of all possible schools of thought and theology, lies in a powerful story in which the writer makes characters, incidents and scenes live in the imagination of his readers as concrete elements, which are remembered in their own right. In it the reader will find touches of tenderness and quaint humor, bursts of heart-moving eloquence, and pure idiomatic English.

The Author's Apology for his Book {1} When at the first I took my pen in hand Thus for to write, I did not understand That I at all should make a little bookIn such a mode; nay, I had undertookTo make another; which, when almost done, Before I was aware, I this begun. And thus it was: I, writing of the way and race of saints, in this our gospel day, Fell suddenly into an allegoryabout their journey, and the way to glory, in more than twenty things which I set down. This done, I twenty more had in my crown;and they again began to multiply,like sparks that from the coals of fire do fly. Nay, then, thought I, if that you breed so fast, I'll put you by yourselves, lest you at last Should prove ad infinitum, and eat outThe book that I already am about. Well, so I did; but yet I did not thinkTo shew to all the world my pen and ink In such a mode; I only thought to make I knew not what; nor did I undertakeThereby to please my neighbour: no, not I;I did it my own self to gratify.