Pilgrim's Progress: A Retelling - Hardcover

Originally written at a jail cell desk in 1675, John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress quickly grew in popularity second only to the Bible itself, and it has seen countless editions and printings over the years. Gary Schmidt has now recaptured this story of everyman's quest for life in contemporary language for a new generation of readers. This volume offers a superb original retelling of Bunyan's beloved classic, masterfully illustrated with fifty dramatic watercolors by Barry Moser. Here again is the tale of Christian's spiritual journey from the City of Destruction to the Heavenly Palaces, including the pitfalls and graces that threaten and fortify his epic pilgrimage. Matching Bunyan's flare for storytelling and vivid imagery, Gary Schmidt's new narrative also echoes the best of writers like Dante, Sir Thomas Browne, E. M. Forster, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Barry Moser's illustrations bring Bunyan's unforgettable characters and landscapes to life in fresh ways. While Christian himself is interpreted as a contemporary figure, Moser portrays the story's characters within different historical eras, powerfully enhancing their symbolic meanings for today's readers while also showing their common tie to humankind throughout the ages. Even after three centuries, this odyssey of faith and human perseverance still appeals to a wide audience. This new retelling of Pilgrim's Progress will stand repeated readings as it speaks to the experiences and stirs the imaginations of both young and old.

Gary D. Schmidt is professor of English at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.