Oxford World’s Classics: The Pilgrim’s Progress

Description

“As I walk’d through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place, where was a Denn; And I laid me down in that place to sleep: And as I slept I dreamed a Dream.”

So begins one of the best-loved and most widely read books in English literature…

The Pilgrim’s Progress has inspired readers for over three centuries. It is one of the best-loved and most widely read books in English literature and is a classic of the heroic Puritan tradition and a founding text in the development of the English novel. The story of Christian, whose pilgrimage takes him through the Slough of Despond, Vanity Fair, and the Delectable Mountains, is full of danger and adventure. Together with his trusty companions, Faithful and Hopeful, he encounters many enemies–the foul fiend Apollyon, Judge Hategood, Giant Despair of Doubting Castle–before finally arriving at the Celestial City.

Bunyan’s own experience of religious persecution informs his story, and its qualities of psychological realism, the beauty and simplicity of his prose combine to create a book whose appeal is universal. This edition includes the illustrations that appeared with the book in Bunyan’s lifetime, giving a sense of its impact on contemporary readers.

The Oxford World’s Classics series makes available the greatest works of world literature. Each volume presents a superb text, an introduction by a leading scholar, a chronology of the author’s life, a select bibliography, and full explanatory notes.

Key Features

• The only complete text in paperback, including all the marginal notes of the original, in original spelling.
• The first edition to include all the original illustrations to appear in editions printed in Bunyan’s lifetime, thus giving a unique sense of the experience of the book for it contemporary readers.
• The new introduction is written in a clear, accessible style with sections on Bunyan’s life and times; allegory; the Bible; Literature and Theology; social satire and endurance under persecution
• Includes a new chronology of Bunyan’s life and times.
• New bibliography.
• New and expanded explanatory notes, and a separate glossary of unfamiliar words.
• Full index.

About the Series

For over 100 years, Oxford World’s Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford’s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, maps, illustrations and much more. A continuous program of new titles and revised editions ensures that the series retains its breadth and reflects the latest scholarship. Comprehensive introductions, clear explanatory notes, chronologies, and bibliographies support the classic texts.

Currently providing access to novels, and other writings, from the 18th, 19th and 20th century, you can support your research using the comprehensive introductions, clear explanatory notes, chronologies, and bibliographies available in every book.