I’m going to be reviewing a bestseller today. It has been adapted various times to appeal to younger generations, be portrayed on screen, and by audio. It is largely a parable, an allegory, and yet there are aspects that give it a fairytale quest feel. Only one book has sold more copies than this story.
A man is troubled to the point of mourning as he reads a book full of wonder and warning. His city is destined for future destruction, and he knows well he deserves such punishment. Yet he prays for deliverance. Then a friendly stranger directs him to the start of his journey to a new, eternal city: the wicket gate. Thus Pilgrim, or Christian, starts his journey to the Celestial City. Along the way, he meets friends and foes. Loyal comrades and momentary companions.
Never could he have imagined the wonders and horrors he would face. The home of the Interpreter, the Castle Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Slough of Despond, Doubting Castle, and the wondrous mount of Salvation. Will Christian remain true to the way? Will he and his friends survive the perils that meet them? Can they reach the Celestial City, or shall they be forever taken by Appolyon, the Prince of Darkness?
If you haven’t run into some version of this story, I’d probably be surprised. I grew up with a film version made in the ‘50's to ‘70's. True, most of it went over my head, and some parts were real scary for a kid. So I didn’t watch it that often. But Adventures in Odyssey from Focus on the Family provided a child-friendly adaption that lasted roughly an hour. My first book introduction featured the main characters as children. I later “graduated” to a small pocket-sized illustrated classics version. It wasn’t until within the last couple years that I received an “original” copy and read it as my Sunday School’s curriculum. It has also been in recent years that I discovered another film, this one with a bit of a modern twist.
So basically, I am very familiar with this story written by a Baptist preacher in the 1600's. That is not to say that I could tell you all the details, such as the mysteries Christian sees in the Interpreter’s house or the wonders he sees at the Palace Beautiful. However I could give you the bare bones version. But as my journey through the book alongside the others in my Sunday School class showed, there is great reward in reading and considering what this man from long ago wrote down for us in a dark prison cell.
John Bunyan is the author of this tale. In this copy, the tale spans 187 pages with 16 chapters. Also in my copy is a forward by Leland Ryken, a brief look at the life of John Bunyan by John Piper, and a preface by John Newton (the same who wrote the beautiful song “Amazing Grace”).
I would recommend this classic to anyone and everyone. Please, find a copy and read it at least once. It’s a classic, bestseller (beaten only by the Holy Bible in numbers sold), and no doubt has an adaption somewhere you can understand. An easy five dragons out of five in my book.
Until next time. Bye.
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