The Pilgrim's Progress in Modern English (Pure Gold Classic) (Pure Gold Classics)

Customer Reviews:

A great read!.......2007-03-12

I remember seeing this book in my grandparents' home back in the '50's. Always thought it was about Plymouth Rock until I started attending church and found out it was an allegory on the Christian's walk with Christ. I really like the language of this particular book as it makes clear the different stages of the Christian walk. I was not aware of the second part about Christiana, which was thoroughly enjoyable as well. Definitely a keeper.

Please read Bunyan's version, not this one.......2007-03-09

John Bunyan's language is really not in the least bit difficult to understand. His The Pilgrim's Progress IS in "Moden English," so it very misleading to say that you can translate them into "Modern English"; they can only be paraphrased. It's bad enough when people read re-written Shakespeare (ok, awful, in my opinion), but at least they have the excuse that Shakespeare can be difficult. If you're going to take the time to read the whole thing, and not simply a summary, why not read what Bunyan actually wrote? Look at his opening, for example:

"As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place, where was a Den. And I laid me down in that place to sleep: And as I slept I dreamed a Dream. I dreamed, and behold I saw a Man clothed with Rags, standing in a certain place..."

As you can see already, his style is unique, but not at all difficult to understand, and certainly easier than the King James Bible for example. Anyone capable of reading the whole length of the Pilgrim's Progress should have very little trouble with it, so what need is there for a substitute? Please read the real thing, preferably with the original spelling and punctuation (though you can surely find modernized versions that still preserve the original diction, if you prefer)! I promise you'll thank me for it later.

My English Teacher's Attempt to Force Christianity Upon Us.......2007-02-12

This is one of the worst books I've ever read in my life. The plot is boring and horribly predictable, the characters are flat, and the story is wholy uninspiring. I've read much better devotional books than this so-called "literature." If you want to be inspired, go read the actual Bible; don't settle for an imitation.

Great Bible Tool.......2007-01-04

Great to use as a supplement to the Bible. It helps to amplify God's Word in a real world practical way.

Not what is depicted with the cover view.......2006-08-17

In searching for this title I found there were 60+ versions out there so I had to rely on both editor and cover pictorials to determine the one I was seeking (which was modern English, full page pictorials, and covering both Christian's and Christiana's journeys). Since I had the one I wanted in hand, I put a lot of faith in the cover visual. What I got was as version without full page pictures, small print and in the older dialect. From what other pilgrims have told me, the modern English version is essential in understanding this work. I donated it to the local library in hopes it will still do good.

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Very Good
Updated "Progress" another step in the dumbing of America (and Canada, too)
a reader
A Starting Point For New Readers
A superlative re-telling of the timeless classic.

Pilgrims Progress in Today's English
John Bunyan , and James Thomas
Manufacturer: Moody Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 080246520X

Book Description

Retold by James H. Thomas. The best allegory ever written is rewritten in modern English, making it clearer and more forceful to the modern reader. (More than 100,000 in print)

Customer Reviews:

Very Good.......2007-08-23

Great book! will be purchasing more copies to give as gifts! Highly
essential reading for all!

Updated "Progress" another step in the dumbing of America (and Canada, too).......2005-11-17

Consider these three passages:

As I was walking through the wilderness of this world, I came to a place where there was a cave. I laid down in that place to sleep, and as I slept I had a dream in which I saw a man dressed in rags standing in a certain place and facing away from his own house. He had a Book in his hand and a great burden on his back. As I looked, I saw him open the Book and read out of it, and as he read, he wept and trembled. Unable to contain himself any longer, he broke out with a sorrowful cry, saying, "What shall I do?" (L. Edward Hazelbaker - The Pilgrim's Progress in Modern English)

As I walked through the wilderness of the world, I came to a place where there was a den. There I lay down to sleep; and as I slept, I dreamed a dream. In my dream I saw a man clothed in rags, standing by a path with a book in his hand and a great burden upon his back. His face was turned from his own house, which stood nearby. I saw him open his book and read, then begin to weep. No longer able to control his feelings, he broke out with a mournful cry, saying, "What shall I do?" (James H. Thomas - Pilgrim's Progress in Today's English)

As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place, where there was a Den, and I laid me down in that place to sleep: And as I slept, I dreamed a Dream. I dreamed, and behold I saw a man cloathed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a Book in his hand, and a great Burden upon his back. I looked, and saw him open the Book, and read therein; and as he read, he wept and trembled; and not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, What shall I do?

The first two are intended to be modernizations and clarifications of the too-difficult third version, the one actually penned by John Bunyan in 1678. (If any of you scholarly types are now itching to inform me that there are questions relating to the ur-text, I am aware of them--and I consider them to be irrelevant to the point I am making.) Dr. Johnson once commented that Alexander Pope's brilliant version of Homer's Iliad, possessed every virtue of a translation except fidelity to the original. I shudder to speculate on what he might have had to say about Messrs. Hazelmaker and Thomas.

Let it be clear that I am commenting on "The Pilgrim's Progress" as literature, indeed, as great literature. The religious content of the book is plain in any version. From Bunyan, it is a plain-spoken tale effectively told by a plain-spoken and popular preacher. Bunyan's book, though, is far from being the touchy-feely, ecumenically-friendly thing that the modernized versions might suggest. After all, Bunyan managed to get himself into hot legal water in 1658 when the Puritan-dominated English Republic was in power and then again when the Anglican-dominated Restoration of Charles II came along. Bunyan was obstreperously a one-man sect. The closest thing he ever had to a real congregation was a mixed body of Congregationalists and Baptists, both of which now lay not very enthusiastic claim to him. He devoted a whole book to denouncing those notorious heretics and scoundrels, the Quakers [!] and in "The Pilgrim's Progress," the frightful "Giant Pope" pops up to make things tough for the faithful.

Bunyan's style is plain-spoken but it is far from unsophisticated. Read it aloud. Think how a powerful preacher would caress some words, savor the significant pauses and then thunder away: "I dreamed ... and BEHOLD, I saw a man cloathed in RAGS" or "and as he READ, he WEPT and TREMBled" or "he brake out with a LAMentable cry ... saying, WHAT shall I DO?" Now read Hazelmaker and Thomas out loud. They are anti-alchemists: they turn gold to lead.

Hazelmaker and Thomas are no more faithful to Bunyan's meaning than they are to his art. In the first sentence, Thomas to the contrary, it is obvious that Bunyan was referring to "this world," not "the world". "I came to a place where there was a cave," says Hazelmaker. "I came to a place where there was a den," says Thomas. But Bunyan says, "I lighted on a certain place, where there was a Den". To me, the obvious meaning of the phrases offered by Hazelmaker and Thomas is that the narrator is wandering about the countryside and, more or less by chance, has come upon a geologic feature. Bunyan's use of the words "lighted" (perhaps we would now say "alighted") and "certain" remove the element of chance. The narrator--Bunyan--is exactly where he intends to be. And where he intends to be is absolutely not in a cave. To make that point crystal clear, Bunyan has added a gloss at that very line; it says, "The Jail."

Bunyan spent much of his life in jail. He was there because he resolutely refused to obey the laws on preaching. Neither Puritans nor Anglicans ever said that he could not preach, they only wanted him to agree to do it at approved times and places in order to preserve the public peace in a religion-mad and revolution-riven land. He could have sprung himself at any time, doubtless with the relieved gratitude of his reluctant jailers, simply by saying that he would obey the law. In any case, his incarceration could not have been too onerous either by Seventeenth Century standards or by ours. He was free to write and publish, both at great length. He could and did preach to his fellow jailbirds. And he was even allowed on occasion to leave the jail to preach at large public meetings.

Don't waste your money on either Hazelmaker or Thomas. Stick with the original, a true classic of the English language. If you're still uncomfortable with Bunyan, take the money you've saved and buy a good dictionary.

a reader.......2004-06-22

A very good and readable edition of Bunyons classic. This is a book that all of 21st century Christianity should read. After scripture it is the best help for the Christian walk. We should definitely read this book before we pick up a copy of the latest self help book.

A Starting Point For New Readers.......2004-06-14

For those who have longed to read Pilgrim's Progress but have put it off this is the version to start with. Many have wanted to read this Christian Classic but did not want to start with trying to understand the 17th Century English of the original. To those this book is a blessing. It is very easy to read but amazingly true to the original. It is great as a stand alone reading, but even better when used as a prelude to the original text.

I would advise reading the Moody version and then immediately reading the old text.

A superlative re-telling of the timeless classic........1999-05-21

This version of John Bunyan's original makes for a light, yet poignant read. It provides an insight to Bunyan's own Christian journey and allows the reader to liken his/her own spiritual walk with that of this 17th century author.

The Innocents Abroad: or, The New Pilgrims' Progress (Modern Library Classics)

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The Hobo Philosopher
Perfect Gift
Review of INNOCENTS ABROAD by Mark Twain
As always a wonderful read
Timeless Twain

The Innocents Abroad: or, The New Pilgrims' Progress (Modern Library Classics)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0812967054
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Book Description

The Innocents Abroad is one of the most prominent and influential travel books ever written about Europe and the Holy Land. In it, the collision of the American “New Barbarians” and the European “Old World” provides much comic fodder for Mark Twain—and a remarkably perceptive lens on the human condition. Gleefully skewering the ethos of American tourism in Europe, Twain’s lively satire ultimately reveals just what it is that defines cultural identity. As Twain himself points out, “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” And Jane Jacobs observes in her Introduction, “If the reader is American, he may also find himself on a tour of his own psyche.”

Customer Reviews:

The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-15

I think that I must be one of the few people who has read all of Mark Twain's non-fiction and practically none of his classic works of fiction. I think that Mark Twain is one of the cleaverst philosophers who has ever lived. There is more to be learned in reading Mark Twain than in reading Plato or Aristotle as far as I am concerned.
I think that this was the second Twain travelogue that I read. It is a laugh a minute. I just love this guy. When they say the "wit and wisdom" of Mark Twain they are not kidding. He is really too much ... and he is fun! How can you beat it.

Perfect Gift.......2007-03-05

If you don't know the person for whom you're buying a gift, well get them this. It's laugh-out loud funny even for someone who doesn't read much or who has never heard of Twain.

Review of INNOCENTS ABROAD by Mark Twain.......2007-01-15

In what must have been the first organized tour by Americans of the Old World, Mark Twain tells of his experiences as a member of a party of 150 taking a cruise steamer to tour the European mainland, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.

The "innocents" of the title applies to Twain and his comrades. It shows partly in their naivete such as being flattered by a French shopkeeper into buying a tawdry piece of apparel, and in their assumption that every native guide must be telling the truth. It shows partly in their attempting behavior that seasoned travelers would not attempt, such as riding a donkey all day, or making an evening foray to the shore of Athens--in violation of the quarantine--to observe the Parthenon under the moonlight. It shows mainly in Twain's sense of wonder at the monuments of civilization which tower over him in what seems the first confrontation of American culture with Europe and the East.

There are some memorable moments: Twain's audience with the Czar in the Caucasus; his arduous trek through the Syrian desert to the Holy Land; his measuring the blocks of the Baalbek temples and deciding they were as big as railroad cars; his being harassed by beggars in every town in the Middle East; his being made a virtual prisoner by his guide as he labors up the great pyramid in Egypt. And we realize that throughout this tour of the antiquities, some things remain as they were in 1867. Tour groups are still largely made up of the gray-haired, the Louvre with its miles of art galleries is still overwhelming, the sphinx remains inscrutable, and Arabs still hate Christians.

INNOCENTS ABROAD is typical Mark Twain, full of his humor, irony, and exaggeration. Brevity is not its virtue, however.

I found this non-fiction work useful for its travel information, but even more readable for its digressions: those anecdotes, legends, spoofs, and mini-essays that liberally infuse the book. Twain's reproduction of a fancied playbill for the Coliseum of 2,000 years ago is hilarious. His well-evidenced argument that Egypt is the wellspring of western culture is a startling one. His portrayal of his experience in the Tomb of the Holy Sepulcher shows a devoutness that we do not associate with this American iconoclast. In fact, he marshals a fund of knowledge of the Bible and Christian history in demonstrating that Ephesus, now largely in ruins, is really the most important city in Christendom.

I purchased INNOCENTS ABROAD after I read it. It is the only book of Twain's that I own, because I will want to read its passages again and again, to myself and to others.

As always a wonderful read.......2006-12-02

Twain is not only timeless but his observations may seem all the more timely. This excellent read follows him on a journey to Europe and then the Middle East in the 1860s. We learn much about the time period and his observations are helpful in learning about the past, we see the brutality od the slave market in Istanbul where European slaves are sold, we see the arrogance of the europeans and we see the true view of the 'Holy Land' as Twain puts to shame former romantic accounts of the land of the Bible and brings it to life in its brutal squalor. Twain is ever cynical and whitty and in this the read sheds light on a nascent quinitsential Americanism. The American culture of Twain is not taken in with old europe, he is not impressed by luxory and he is not easily taken in with romance, there is no Lawrence of Arabia in Twain, there is skepticism about religion, about the Catholic church. People are not inherently good or evil, but jaded, Twain has a sense of justice but he dares to challenge his contemporaries and ironically the way his contemporaries viewed say the European or the Arab beoduin, has not changed in 140 years. Twain dared to challenge popular thought and in that he was one of the first Americans.

Seth J. Frantzman

Timeless Twain.......2006-11-14

Journey to the east in 1860's with the best travel writer ever, Mark Twain.
Colorful descriptions of people, places and events abroad with Twain humor. If you love travel stories, this will delight you.

John Bunyan: Author of the Pilgrim's Progress (Heroes of the Faith)

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John Bunyan: Author of the Pilgrim's Progress (Heroes of the Faith)
Sam Wellman
Manufacturer: Chelsea House Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0791050351

Book Description

The doubts, temptations, and hopes of his own spiritual journey were put on paper and he became author of The Pilgrim's Progress.

John Bunyan: Writer of Pilgrims Progress (Preteen Biography)

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John Bunyan: Writer of Pilgrims Progress (Preteen Biography)
Sandy Dengler
Manufacturer: Moody Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0802443524

The Pilgrim's Progress and Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

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The Pilgrim's Progress and Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
John Bunyan
Manufacturer: Vintage
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375725687
Release Date: 2004-04-13

Book Description

Now available together in a single volume, these two classics were written by seventeenth-century England’s most famous prisoner of conscience, Baptist John Bunyan (1628-1688). Imprisoned for twelve years for his preaching, he wrote first a dramatic allegory of Christian life and followed it with the compelling story of his own conversion. Both have been beloved by generations of spiritual seekers and still speak powerfully to modern readers.

Pilgrim’s Progress recounts the perilous journey of Christian from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, and in its second part, follows the journey of his wife, Christiana. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners is Bunyan’s fervent memoir of his own spiritual regeneration. Both works are enduring masterpieces of English prose, uniting the simple power of Biblical language with the vivid bluntness of untutored speech.

The Pilgrim's Progress In Modern English

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The Pilgrim's Progress In Modern English
Dick Worth
Manufacturer: Pilot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UJOENU

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Pilgrim's Progress In Modern English
John Bunyan
Manufacturer: Matthew Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Your Life's Companion
Readable and human parable. A story for all times.
Captivating
Classic
Wonderful theology, incomplete allegory

Pilgrim's Progress in Modern English
John Bunyan , and Jean Watson
Manufacturer: Zondervan Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0310221471

Book Description

John Bunyan's classic allegory of Christian's journey to the Celestial City, abridged and updated for the modern reader.

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Journey with Christian on the most incredible adventure ever imagined. Reaching the Celestial City is a little more difficult than our hero bargained for! Will he pass safely through the Valley of the Shadow of Death?

Customer Reviews:

Your Life's Companion.......2006-08-10

Enthralling. This book will help every Christian deal with the battles of being a Christian in this life and all the struggles that go with it. It teaches you never to give up even when you feel like you can't go on. Life's struggles are not a new occurrence, but as timeless as human existence itself. It teaches you not to be too concentrated on your struggles, but to look at the great prize which is Heaven and not be distracted or enticed by the struggles of life nor the easy way out. Excellent. It is a must read for every Christian.

Readable and human parable. A story for all times........2004-10-18

The first time that I encountered Christian and his pilgrimage was as a preface and a family favorite in the book Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Unfortunately, it was not until twenty-something years later that I actually got around to reading the book itself. If I were you, I would not wait that long.

The first part of the current combined book appeared in 1678. Bunyan, a nonconformist Protestant minister who was imprisoned for preaching without a license, wrote at least the first part of the book in jail. The second part was first published in 1684. It is likely the most popular allegory ever written, and is still one of the best selling books of all time.

What makes it so popular? The obvious key to its popularity is its simple, crisp style. Even accounting for the language changes between the seventeenth century and now, it is not a struggle to read Progress and it flows well for the modern reader. Although the book is allegory, the characters are full of little realistic details that make them feel quite human. Incidentally, I was reading this book as I was walking some of the old pilgrimage trails of Europe and it was interesting to me how vivid and applicable his version of the pilgrimage experience is. The Slow of Despair rang remarkably true, as did characters such as Talkative and Mr. Worldly Wisdom.

The Oxford University Press edition is bound with a scholarly introduction which is, for a change, worth reading. It also came with explanatory notes and a glossary which were helpful for the modern reader who is not familiar with the everyday language of the period.

Captivating.......2003-10-15

This book is a true classic. John Bunyan spins a wonderful tale of the spiritual walk to heaven. The language may be a bit hard and it won't be that easy of a read, but it is definately worth the while!

It is spiritually edifying and also quite captivating.

A must read!!!

Classic.......2003-06-24

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.

Wonderful theology, incomplete allegory.......2002-08-17

The Pilgrim's Progress is perhaps one of the most enduring allegories ever written; it has set the form for several more recent works (Hannah Hurnard's "Hind's Feet on High Places," most notably). Bunyan's work was, for 18th century Christians, a companion to the Bible. The theology is a perfect example of Reformation thought, and were it not for a major flaw in the allegory, this work would be just about perfect.
Setting out from the City of Destruction, Christian makes his journey throughout many perils and temptations, eventually finding his way (through death) to the Celestial City, to live with Christ and the saints. Along the way he learns much about evading temptation, and much practical advise on escaping sin is given to the reader through his discussions with travelling companions Faithful and Hopeful.
However, by no means is Christian's journey representative of the Christian life as it is meant to be lived. Two stunning flaws stand out - first, that Christian in no way has any direct contact with Christ, until after his death; secondly, that Christian's life is devoid of relationships, outside of his two travelling companions.
These two realities of the novel are startling, especially given that the Christian life is, first and foremost, relational-primarily, the Christian lives in relation to God, and then in relation to his neighbor. The Christian is not an island; he is to evade the world, but love those in it. Bunyan entirely misses this key point.
Not only is the life Bunyan paints theologically incorrect, but it is entirely undesireable. It would be unimaginable for the Christian to live an entire life without, along the way, enjoying intimacy with Christ. Indeed, it is these moments of intimacy in spite of imperfection, which drive the Christian's soul onward. And it hardly needs mentioning that a Christian who, rather than reaching out and loving those around him, dismisses them as sinners and leaves them behind, is more reminiscent of Pharasitical hypocrisy, than Christian love.
If one is looking for a challenging allegory, they need look no further than Hannah Hurnard's "Hinds Feet on High Places;" its protagonist, Much Afraid, is throughout her journey often in direct contact with Christ, and her redemption comes not through death, but through Christ making her able to go out into the world and love. Though "Hind's Feet" is not as theologically rich as Bunyan's allegory, its practical application is far more uplifting, hopeful, and correct.

Pilgrim's Progress, The - In Modern English

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Pilgrim's Progress, The - In Modern English
John Bunyan
Manufacturer: Sovereign Grace Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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