The Battle For Mansoul

John Bunyan’s The Holy War is a seventeenth-century Puritan text—an unlikely choice for adaptation into a children’s picture book. Yet, Vicki Wheeldon’s The Battle for Mansoul, with its beautiful watercolour illustrations by Jayney Watson, will immediately engage the interest of twenty-first century children.

The story begins with the description of the beautiful town of Mansoul, made by the great King Shaddai to be the place of his royal residence. The town has a very strong wall with five gates; each gate representing one of our senses. They can only be opened from the inside, so no harm can come to the townspeople: unless - the people of the town invite the enemy in by opening up the gates.

Not very far away lives a great enemy, Diabolus, who is determined to trick the people into opening the gates to him so that he could take over as King. This will prove difficult as the walls are patrolled by Captain Resistance, Mr Conscience as well as the Lord Chief Secretary. With the help of Serpent Evil-tongue and Toady Hard-heart, Diabolus goes in disguise as a baby dragon and goes in turn to Feel Gate, Nose Gate, Mouth Gate, Eye Gate and finally Eye Gate. Once he gains entry, Diabolus rules as a tyrant - but the great King Shaddai has a rescue plan. But will the people of Mansoul believe the word of Commander Repentance as he comes with his message of hope?

John Bunyan (1628 - 1688) lived in Bedford, England during a period of political and religious turmoil. He spent twelve years in Bedford jail even though he could have been released if he had promised not to preach. He used this time to write and make shoelaces to support his family. Here in prison, Bunyan produced his most famous work, The Pilgrim's Progress, which sold more copies than any other work in English apart from the Bible. The Holy War (1682), which is comparatively less well known, is far too often overlooked, though it is a rich resource for believers.