Пътешественикът - част 1

The Pilgrim's Progress #1

by John Bunyan

Смело може да се каже, че Джон Бъниан е написал най-влиятелната книга на английски (като изключим изданието на Библията Кинг Джеймс). Пътешественикът е много повече от класическо произведение. Целта на автора е неговите читатели да пропътуват заедно с книгата през живота си. Приключенията на главния герой Християн и на неговите другари са представен така картинно, че съвременниците на Бъниан са очаровани. Читателят получава нагледни и практични уроци за живота и взаимоотношенията, от които всеки се нуждае. И днес Пътешественикът е в списъка от задължителни четива на гимназиите в Обединеното кралство. Това издание на български заменя по-архаичните думи, но запазва стила на автора и автентичната атмосфера, присъща на алегоричния разказ, който използва картини от културата на ХVІІ век.

Genres: Christian, Graphic Novels, Classics, Fiction, Christian Fiction

152 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

John Bunyan, a Christian writer and preacher, was born at Harrowden (one mile south-east of Bedford), in the Parish of Elstow, England. He wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, arguably the most famous published Christian allegory. In the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second reading of this book. I definitely enjoyed listening to it being read in audiobook format more than reading it in print, but still an excellent book and one that deserves its place as one of the top Christian books of all time. Highly recommend.

[Christa Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread after 15+ years

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

An allegory of the Christian life, with many biblical quotations and allusions. It contains memorable scenes that represent the people and events frequently encountered during the Christian life. It emphasizes the sacrifices and sufferings of the Christian life, as well as its joys and rewards (in this life and especially the next). It shows the dangers of forgetfulness and temptation. It highlights the value of Christian fellowship and encouragement, and the power of frequently reminding ourselves and others what the Bible says about our current situation, and of our goal and reward of Heaven. It teaches the importance of following the way God has set, not any way you prefer. It also shows the importance of evangelism and witnessing by our lives.

It's the story of a man named Christian (originally Graceless) who is convicted of his sin after reading a book (the Bible) and departs his family and hometown, the City of Destruction (a life of sin), to make for the Celestial City (Heaven). On his way he encounters allies such as Faithful and Hopeful, but also enemies like Apollyon (Satan).

The Christian life is compared to a pilgrimage because this earthly, material world isn't our home; we're simply traveling through it on the way to Heaven. It shows that the Christian life is usually characterized by suffering and persecution, but that all suffering ends immediately upon entrance to Heaven. Bunyan certainly wouldn't agree with the popular prosperity (health and wealth) "gospel" (nor does the Bible).

I read the free modernized ebook by Grace Gems, available from Monergism. They also have the original, linked from that page.

Memorable scenes
• Slough of Despond.
• Mountain of Law/Legality.
• Christian's burden falling from his back when he arrived at the Cross.
• Christian's combat with Apollyon.
• Moses (representing the Law) knocking down Faithful, and Jesus rescuing Faithful.
• Relief, celebration welcome, and joy when Christian and Hopeful cross the river (representing death) into Beulah (representing Heaven).

Notes
The House of the Interpreter
Christian sees a fire with one person throwing water on it and another throwing oil on it. The fire represents grace in a person's heart. The water represents the Devil trying to extinguish grace. The oil represents Christ maintaining grace.

The Valley of the Shadow of Death
Bunyan said paganism was dead and Roman Catholicism had become powerless. Those statements haven't aged well.

Doubting Castle
Christian uses the key Promise (God's promises) to escape Doubting Castle (doubt, despair).

The River of Death

These troubles and distresses that you are going through in these waters, are no indication that God has forsaken you. Rather, they are only sent to test you—as to whether you will call to mind what you have hitherto received of His goodness, and live upon Him in your present distresses.

Quotes
The Hill Difficulty

The hill, though high, I choose to ascend,
The difficulty will not me offend;
For I perceive the way to life lies here.
Come, take heart, let's neither faint nor fear;
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy—where the end is woe.

Timorous and Mistrust
"To go back is nothing but death; to go forward is fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it. I will yet go forward."

Vanity Fair

But that which did not a little amuse the merchandisers was, that these pilgrims set very light by all their wares. They cared not so much as to look upon them; and if they called upon them to buy, they would put their fingers in their ears, and cry, "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity," and look upward, signifying that their trade and traffic was in heaven. One chanced, mockingly, beholding the carriage of the men, to say unto them, "What will ye buy?" But they, looking gravely upon him, said, "We buy the truth."

[Uri Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this review, I briefly address three retellings of The Pilgrim's Progress, which adapt Bunyan's Christian story (Part 1, anyway) and mostly succeed in overcoming the problems I mentioned that plague the original book:

(1) John Bunyan's A Pilgrim's Progress, an oversize book written by Geraldine McCaughrean and illustrated by Jason Cockcroft (1999).

American readers might not be familiar with McCaughrean, a British author who's written over 170 books (!) and won the Carnegie Medal twice (including for A Pack of Lies, which I like a lot) as well as the Hans Christian Andersen Award (which has been dubbed the Nobel Prize of children's literature).

In this retelling, she makes some reasonable changes, such as to the names (e.g., Mr. Worldly Wiseman is now Mr. Alec Smart). Christian's two companions are still called Faithful and Hopeful, but Hopeful has been genderswapped and is now a woman.

McCaughrean's storytelling is excellent, and Cockcroft's pointillist art – mostly B&W with a few color spreads – is breathtaking. If you want to read Pilgrim's Progress, this version – which won the very first Blue Peter Award for Book of the Year – is probably the best way to do it.

That is, unless you would prefer a graphic novel. Here are two of them:

(2) The Pilgrim's Progress, Volumes 1 and 2, adapted by Lee Tung & Johnny Wong and illustrated by Creator Art Studio (Kingstone Comics, 2011). [Volume 1 is the book you clicked on which brought you to this review.]

The art is good but isn't winning prizes. (Some of the word bubbles are confusingly placed.) The story is faithful to Bunyan – too faithful. It leaves in minor scenes that McCaughrean wisely omitted, such as the ones that trash other religions. (These include the has-been giants Pope and Pagan, and the deadly mountain called Sinai. When someone dashes up to Christian and beats him up, the guy is identified as none other than Moses.)

One clever depiction is Christian's heavy burden of sin. When he's freed of it by accepting Jesus (a scene that appears in all the versions), the burden is revealed to be a skeletal demon masquerading as a backpack. Interestingly, Hopeful has been genderswapped in this version as well.

(3) The Pilgrim's Progress, adapted by Martin Powell (who has written hundreds of stories for graphic novels) and illustrated by Seppo Makinen (Marvel Comics, 1992).

This version is more abridged than the other two, but it still manages to squeeze in some of Part 2, about the pilgrimage of Christiana and her children. (They don't know how to fight, but Bunyan has them protected by a warrior named Great-Heart. By the way, in this version Hopeful is a man, but Great-Heart is a woman.)

Two aspects of this version stand out for me. First, the art is professional and looks exactly like a Marvel superhero comic. Second, some of the setting has been moved to the present. For example, the corrupt city at the start of the story is reminiscent of Gotham City (oops, that belongs to the other comic book company). Christian's lazy friend Iggy (short for Ignorant) looks a lot like Pee-wee Herman. In other words, the Marvel version is a hybrid of Bunyan's 1600s story and modern visuals.

[Lenni Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm using this edition to represent that I only read the first half of the story, so hopefully I did that right. But anyway, I found this book to be a fascinating allegory. I knew it was a Christian story, but I wasn't expecting it to be so on-the-nose. I loved many scenes, though, especially the one where Despair is beating Christian and he contemplates suicide. I think that that scene, religion aside, is extremely accurate to today, and perhaps it would even be helpful for modern teens to read.

What this allegory really reminded me of was The Phantom Tollbooth . The characters have very obvious names (Christian, Atheist, Ignorance), just like the Phantom Tollbooth (The Princesses Rhyme and Reason). Both stories are also one continuous story where the main character is faced with curious situation after curious situation (so I guess it's also a bit like Alice in Wonderland).

If you liked The Phantom Tollbooth and are a Christian, I think you will enjoy this book very much.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this so many times over the course of my young adult life. It honestly has a special place in my heart, not only because of the easy to read comic book format, but the story itself is so rich in bible doctrine and gospel truth. Pilgrim's Progress is indeed a timeless classic. It was in these pages, I first started to gain a true understanding of the grace of God, and the life of a christian.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't love allegory, but I can appreciate what Bunyan is trying to do with the Puritan anti-fiction mindset of the time. Bunyan does have some beautiful ways to describe/picture faith. It's just a little bit of a slog at times to get through. I think it works better to think of reading the text devotionally/reflectionally, rather than as "story." Still worth the meditation in reading.

[Darren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like being trapped in the most boring bible-study group you can imagine. Only the bits where he battles Apollyon and the description of the Celestial City when he finally gets there liven it up a bit. No idea why this is so highly rated or why it wasn't just forgotten about years (centuries!) ago.

[Yuiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great Analogy of what it's like as a walk of a Christian ✝️
If you were ever wondering what it's like it's kinda like this. You will have challenges and heart ache but it's worth it when you finally get to be with king Jesus 🤴 and spend eternity with him!!!

[Hunter Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible book. Brilliance of the author had to come from above. Will re-read, probably many times, when I feel I’ve gotten off track or lost perspective. Can’t recommend highly enough.

Will eventually read volume 2.

[Sortior · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many things about Christians havent changed since the 17th century. This book reminds people that the simplicity of Christ vs religion. Many of the metaphors are alive today.

[Michael Anagor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Diana Craciun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find it interesting! ❤

[Isak Gjøtterud · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, but you need to spend some time with it to appreciate it (which I didn't as I read it for a course) as it is allegorical.

[Evelyn Arquette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am using this to show I only read Christian's journey, not his wife Christina's. It is a good Christian story. I am glad I read it.

[Ivan DS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Дали някой е чел 96 пъти една и съща книга? Аз не съм. Но има такъв човек. Биографите на Чарлс Спърджън твърдят, че той е прочел „Пътешественикът“ на Джон Бъниан толкова пъти. Той е написал една от най-влиятелните книги, която е издавана най-много след Библията. Пътешествието на читателя през лабиринта на своя живот е паралелно с живота на героите от книгата. В книгата има нагледни и практични уроци за живота и взаимоотношенията в него, от които всеки има нужда.

Ето какво казва Бъниан за книгата си:

„Пътешественик книгата ще те направи, ако слушаш съветите ѝ прави; и ще те насочи тя към Свещената земя, ако смирено приемеш насоките нейни - да, тя ще превърне бездейния в деен; а слепия дотам ще доведе, че прекрасни неща да прозре. … Тогава прочети това творение от мен; то тъй много ще те увлече - и за силния е подходящо, но и за безпомощно дете. … И сам за себе си ще четеш ли, без нищо да разбираш дори, и без да си сигурен дали си благословен или не, докато четеш тези редове? Как всичко те ще преобърнат! И ти благодатно ще се промениш, и книгата в сърцето и ума си ще вградиш, така че те в едно да се превърнат.“

[Bud Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had never read this, I was feeling some obligation... Considered one of the most significant works of religious English literature and translated into more than 200 languages, I thought I should take a look (given the fact that I am a retired preacher and now teaching English composition). In any case, I thought the allegory was well written, but not really my preferred type of literature. And so, I stopped after Part 1. Maybe (though doubtfully) I'll read Part 2 in the future.

[Tom Findysz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true masterpiece. It wonderfully portrays aspects of the Christian life in such a manner that only one who has tasted of it could so explain. It itself is not Scripture, but it sure is a book written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Update: Read now 4 times. I noticed this time just how boldly things were spoken. No punches withheld. Still great.