Call Toll Free: (800) 451-5006

The Most Difficult Journey You'll Ever Make: The Pilgrim's Progress

Author: John Bunyan, Editor: Tony Jones, Editor: Robert Edmonson

Read an Excerpt

“Subtle, it’s not. The Pilgrim’s Progress is a frank depiction of the Christian life. Written by an imprisoned pastor almost 350 years ago, it still captures attention with its vivid depictions of the journey of an ordinary Christian. . .”

The Pilgrim’s Progress is arguably the most-read book in the English language after the Bible. This new, contemporary translation of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress retains the author’s enchanting prose. Helpful annotations throughout invite a new generation of readers to join Christian and his companions, Faithful and Hopeful, as they travel from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City.

This is no pie-in-the-sky story. The Christian life is hard. There’s no easy passage from our first experience of God’s love to that final reward of entrance into heaven. There are obstacles and temptations at every turn. But, there is also help along the way, and the journey is gloriously worthwhile!

Product Reviews for The Most Difficult Journey You'll Ever Make: The Pilgrim's Progress

Many theologians have stated that besides the Bible, The Pilgrims Progress is one of the most important books a Christian could ever read. It's age and language have been barriers to modern readers, however. So here's an updated, modernized version.
In my opinion, nothing brings the fire of the burden of Sin quite like classic puritan linguistics. In Edmonson's version, the original message is there, though the impact is not. The harshness and the wrath that only a jailed Mr. Bunyan could dream is best said with that outdated English language.
On the other hand, this version is incredibly easy to read and comprehend, and most importantly doesn't water any of the original messages down, making them just as biblically sound. The important names are the same and the path is still...well...difficult.
It includes Scripture references and even some very helpful commentary. It's a great tool for side-by-side comparison and reference that is perfect for all of us out there that just never got Shakespeare.

Marcus Pittman

The Journal of Student Ministries

April 1, 2007

Talk about a road trip! The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan is arguably the most-read book in the English language after the Bible. Written by an imprisoned pastor nearly 350 years ago, it honestly depicts the journey of an ordinary Christian through the difficult life of faith. And yet, it reminds us that there is help along the way and that the journey is worthwhile! In this new contemporary translation, youth minister Tony Jones has added insightful and helpful annotations to encourage young people to join Christian and his two companions, Faithful and Hopeful, as they travel from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City.

Devozine

March 21, 2007

Part of the Christian Classics for Today series that also includes You Converted Me: The Confessions of St. Augustine (Paraclete Press, 2006), this book is a contemporary version of the classic title, The Pilgrim's Progress, which according to the back cover is believed to be the "most-read book in the English language after the Bible." In this allegorical look at the Christian faith, a young man named Christian journeys to heaven, The Celestial City. On his journey he experiences a variety of monsters, such as the demons of the Valley of the Shadow of Death and temptations. Other characters include Hopeful, Faithful, Ignorance, and Mr. Superstition. Included notes offer meaningful historical context and explanation. Throughout the book there are additional notes that explain Biblical context, such as names, and help to relate the text to modern life: "Today, we might call Despair and Distrust by another name: Depression."
This version will definitely help snake the original text more accessible to teens and provides a great example of allegory It is a good companion to Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard (Destiny Image, 1993) and The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis (G. Bles, 1942). Although the cover art will require hand selling the book to the target audience, it is a recommended title.

Karen Jensen

VOYA- Voice of Youth Advocates

February 1, 2007

FROM HIS VANTAGE POINT AS author, youth pastor, and Emergent Village national coordinator, Tony Jones sees a renewed interest in the classic Christian titles of the past couple millennia. Jones, a senior research fellow impractical theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, is midway through writing the introduction and reader's notes to four updated classics for Paraclete Press. The re-titled classics are You Converted Me (the first eight books of Augustine's Confessions, released in March), The Most Difficult Journey You'll Ever Make (Pilgrim's Progress, October), a reworking of Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God, and an as-yet unselected title by a female author. Classics are a backlist staple for many Christian publishers. These titles tend to be overshadowed by front list bestsellers, but that may be changing. Disenchanted with what they perceive to be shallow and unauthentic Christianity, post-moderns tend to look to the past for inspiration and authenticity. This interest is reflected in the recent return in popularity of ancient hymns and prayers, the lectio divina, and spiritual- formation practices that require a more rigorous attitude toward faith. Retailers who want to attract a younger, emergent-church crowd would be wise to highlight and promote Christian classics, Jones says." Classics have stood the test of time:' he says. "They not only tell the message of the kingdom of God but do it in away that's profound and captures someone's imagination, whether that person is in the sixth or 2 1 11 century." "Pilgrim's Progress is probably the most-read book (after the Bible) in the history of the English language. Confessions is in the top 10. The fact that it was written by one of Christianity's top theologians about his own adolescence and conversion makes it even more attractive to young readers. Retailers would be crazy not to stock it. "Jones admits to being disheartened by much of today's Christian literature, which he considers shallow and market-driven. He warns that teens and twenty some things don't want what they consider trivial reading matter. College students, who read and discuss Plato and Aristotle in their college courses, want challenging spiritual texts. The same applies to teens, Jones observes. As a youth pastor, he's seen their eagerness to be challenged. Jones suggests retailers work with churches and youth pastors to stock classics at youth conferences and other events for teens and twenty some things. "As bookstores find themselves shrinking in the marketplace, one of the ways to re-engage is to set up book clubs that get people to question and discuss books that challenge them:' he adds. "It might get people to show up on a Thursday night, drink their coffee, argue for a couple of hours, and maybe buy a few books before they left. "Go on, take a chance!"

Aspiring Retail

November 1, 2006