There is something deeply consoling in your reflection — a reminder that the old pilgrim paths are not abandoned, only overgrown by modern forgetfulness. At Desert and Fire, I often return to this same truth: that the world, rightly seen, is not mute but filled with living signs, charged with the radiance of a God who stooped low enough to write His Word not only on parchment but into flesh, landscape, and sorrow.
Incarnational mysticism insists that allegory is not a flight from reality, but a deeper plunge into it. Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is not a "fiction" in the modern sense — it is an uncovering of what already burns beneath the skin of the world. The green valleys, the dark sloughs, the glittering cities — all are not mere metaphors of the soul’s journey, but incarnations of it, visible to the eyes that have been washed by suffering into clarity.
Modern literalism, as you so well point out, flattens this vision; it forgets that to walk through the world is already to move through a woven tapestry of spirit and matter. To lose this is not merely to lose poetry — it is to lose the very texture of God’s self-disclosure.
Thank you for reminding us that to read Bunyan rightly is not to decode, but to consent — to allow his images to reawaken the forgotten hunger within us for the long road home, a road where the dust on our feet is itself sacramental, and every burden borne for the King becomes, secretly, a hidden crown.
"nor did I intend But to divert myself in doing this From worser thoughts which make me do amiss" would seem like a reference to the unwanted thoughts that he said would come suddenly into his mind in his autobiography, Grace Abounding. As you know, it is mine and others' theory that Bunyan suffered from religious scrupulousity, a common symptom of what is now known as OCD.
I would love to go on to part two, which has its own cast of interesting characters. In my youth, I always preferred part two to part one, as it seemed more hope filled. Bunyan is gentler on the women and children in the second part than he is on poor Christian in the first.
Vaughan Williams' Fifth Symphony was also originally based on Pilgrim's Progress. Vaughan Williams took the manuscript references Pilgrim's Progress out before the symphony's publication, as he was trying to move away from program music [program music, based on a narrative or topic, is often considered less 'serious' than absolute music, which has no topic or narrative, and Vaughan Williams wanted to be taken seriously]. The 5th symphony is my favourite by Vaughan Williams and I hear Bunyan's story in it, especially in the beautiful 3rd movement, the Romanza: https://youtu.be/oX4pTSRcgSc?feature=shared
So much packed into that little phrases, “unwanted thoughts,” and I think you’re absolutely right that Bunyan suffered exactly that condition. It comes out so much more clearly in Grace Abounding.
I did not know that about Williams’ Fifth Symphony. What a legacy Bunyan gave us!
I don't know that symphony, but "romance" is sometimes used to mean a narrative generally. My guess would be that the movement would have a kind of musical progression. Would you say it does?
It is more of a musical meditation. In his manuscript of the Romanza, Vaughan Williams wrote this quotation from Bunyan:
'Upon that place there stood a cross
And a little below a sepulchre … Then he said
"He hath given me rest by his sorrow and
Life by his death"'
The music really captures the sense of that moment, an incredible mixture of quiet relief and deep joy, yet subtly mixed with a knowledge of pain and sorrow.
Vaughan Williams was described as a cheerful agnostic, but he edited both the English Hymnal and the Oxford book of Carols, rendering an immense service to English church music, in addition to his indelible impression on English classical and film music.
1) If Russell Moore does not visit the substack in the next 6 weeks to leave comments, I'm going to be very disappointed in him.
2) While I am working on reading more of it, I'm not an expert in African literature. However, I have read recently that Bunyan's works--especially, but not exclusively Pilgrim's Progress--had been widely used by colonizers to teach English, and therefore, I've read, colonial and post-colonial African literature has a lot of references and intertextuality with Pilgrim's Progress. (The Life and Death of Mr. Badman is another of his texts I've seen mentioned.)
3) I don't remember, but it seems possible: Does Daniel DeFoe mention Bunyan, especially in either Robinson Crusoe or Moll Flanders? I don't think I have a copy of either text any longer. DeFoe was another dissenter.
I am not recalling a specific mention of banyan by default. But I think it’s pretty well assumed that Defoe would’ve been very familiar with Bunyan and the influence is very clear.
I wonder if anyone is going to be up for a reading of Robinson Crusoe here? 😃
Not sure. If the choice is between Defoe's or Swift's travel narrative, I'd take Swift's as the more colourful and engaging. I was thoroughly sick of Crusoe by the time we got to the mountain pass and wouldn't have minded terribly if the wolves had put an end to the narrative.
Yes, to reading Crusoe! We just read it in our church’s book club called “Christ in the Classics” and it led to a lively and thoughtful discussion. I would enjoy reading it with this group, especially after reading Pilgrim’s Progress.
I lived for over a year in West Africa, in a country that was formerly an English colony. I noticed that those who spoke English often used somewhat archaic speech constructs, which, at the time, reminded me of Shakespeare or the English of the King James Bible.
I can't say that I've particularly noticed the references to Bunyan, but I haven't looked for them. I wonder if they appear in Achebe's, Ngugi's, or Soyinka's works.
So excited for this reading and a wonderful follow to Paradise Lost! Yes, let’s read Christiana’s journey too. The 17th century is a great place to hang out!
Very much looking forward to this series. That quote from CS Lewis on allegory!! My, it's given me a lot to ponder and to savour. Do you have a link for that talk, Karen?
Richard, I’m so glad you’re looking forward to the series. I think sub stack was a little wonky today because I typed out a long reply but now I don’t see it. So if it shows back up later that’s what happened.
The Lewis lecture is reprinted in my Norton critical edition of PP. But I did find the excerpt that I quoted at this website:
And here’s another crazy thing: I tried to include the footnote to the Lewis quote, but for some reason it wouldn’t go in the same section as the other footnotes. I think that’s because I copied and pasted that section from my book manuscript. I fiddled with it for a while and then just decided I would not include that footnote. And wouldn’t you know? That’s the source you wanted! 🤣
Thanks Karen, that's really appreciated. Yes, ain't that just exactly what you'd expect!! 😂 Also, I'd forgotten you had a chapter about PP in On Reading Well so I'm going to have a read of that, too, in readiness.
I'm coming back to this after having just finished listening to the series somewhat late. But just thought I'd chime in a few times. My kids absolutely loved (and still do) this children's poetic paraphrase: The Pilgrim's Progress: A Poetic Retelling of John Bunyan’s Classic Tale by Rousseaux Brasseur. It might not always be the most "accurate," but it conveys the message well enough. And, I admit, I reread Pilgrim's Progress with the book's wonderful illustrations in hand. And I'm 45, so there's that. https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrims-Progress-Retelling-Bunyans-Classic/dp/0736979484/
Thank you for doing this. I’m looking forward to revisiting PP. In the event that you have subscribers who need to listen to the audiobook or to listen and read simultaneously for comprehension, there is a free audiobook on Librivox:
Listening to the introduction, where Bunyan tells of the virtues of his book, it will make lazy people bestir themselves, blind see wonderful things, improve your memory etc, it struck me just how much it sounded like a modern ‘self help ‘ book . And I love the way he talks of the ‘bigness ‘ of his book rather than the length
I’m on a 7 1/2 hour road trip for work and I’m going back-and-forth between music, podcast, and audiobook, and then I remembered “Oh yes, Karen’s Substack is out, and she usually has an audio version.“ So I was actually thrilled that you are Close 13 minutes long today gave me something else to listen to.
I thought the CS Lewis quote was really helpful. In my understanding of how I should approach this book. You know I’m nervous about it. But I am really happy to be reading it here with you and this group of people. I remember reading about this in “on reading well“, so I’m ready to DavidW. Hey Siri.
I reread this comment! Ha! Isn't it obvious I voice-texted it? "Hey Siri" and everything. I also have no idea who DavidW is! Haha! I obviously didn't proofread it! :-)
This may account for the several mentions of banyan trees.
Reminds me of a student who once wrote a research paper using only a voice-to-text program. I think he was disappointed with the grade. (Edited because I left -ed off of "disappoint," and irony is not dead.)
Thank you for the great intro, Karen! Despite growing up in a book-loving Christian home, getting my English degree from a Christian college, and getting my Master's in English, I've never been much exposed to Bunyan! Had no knowledge of his life, and I'm now intrigued! I would love to read Pilgrims Progress to my kids as they grow up.
Any recommendations for the best (unabridged?!) edition for storytime with kids?
Bunyan's father was a tinker, an occupation often done by the Romani in England, which has led some to suggest that Bunyan may have been of Romani descent, while others disagree. Bunyan says simply:
"For my descent then, it was, as is well known by many, of a low and inconsiderable generation; my father's house being of that rank that is meanest and most despised of all the families of the Land."
He then says, "Yet notwithstanding the meanness and inconsiderableness if my Parents, it pleased God to put it into their heart, to put me to School, to learn both to Read and Write..."
I started with an abridged edition titled 'Dangerous Journey'. But its illustrations of Apollyon and the Valley of the Shadow of Death deeply frightened me.
Bunyan wrote volumes of works, mainly doctrinal treatises. There is one work that was published posthumously that is most like PP. It is called “The Heavenly Footman.” At least one scholar believes that this story and the dream Bunyan writes about in his spiritual autobiography with the direct precursors to PP. I’m not sure if there’s any evidence of a specific work that Bunyan was writing in prison that he put down to write this one. But it could be that tracked that never was published during his lifetime. It too, is an allegory.
I did not know this about Louisa Macdonald!! Now I need to dig into HER story a bit (and maybe write a play about her…🤔). Thx for the tip!
And I agree with Nancy that the 17th century is a great place to hang out! I’m currently engrossed in Robert Harris’ historical novel Act of Oblivion and up to my ears in the drama between the royalists and the regicides! Highly recommend…
Looking forward to Pilgrim’s Progress with you all here at the Priory! ❤️
Just a note here (and will correct it later): I generally publish each Tuesday. Somehow, I got the dates wrong after May 6 on the schedule. Those of you have been following along for a little time know that this is par for the course for me. I don’t know what it is about numbers and dates and calendars for me but here we are. 😑
The introduction on Bunyan's life and times was a bit anxiety provoking to me. It's like reading about the French revolution. In one lifetime the pendulum of political and/or religious extremism can swing back and forth in such a way that one can be in, then out, then in again (if you survive the "out"). Bunyan reminds me to keep my heart anchored in the Celestial City in our own divided times.
There is something deeply consoling in your reflection — a reminder that the old pilgrim paths are not abandoned, only overgrown by modern forgetfulness. At Desert and Fire, I often return to this same truth: that the world, rightly seen, is not mute but filled with living signs, charged with the radiance of a God who stooped low enough to write His Word not only on parchment but into flesh, landscape, and sorrow.
Incarnational mysticism insists that allegory is not a flight from reality, but a deeper plunge into it. Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is not a "fiction" in the modern sense — it is an uncovering of what already burns beneath the skin of the world. The green valleys, the dark sloughs, the glittering cities — all are not mere metaphors of the soul’s journey, but incarnations of it, visible to the eyes that have been washed by suffering into clarity.
Modern literalism, as you so well point out, flattens this vision; it forgets that to walk through the world is already to move through a woven tapestry of spirit and matter. To lose this is not merely to lose poetry — it is to lose the very texture of God’s self-disclosure.
Thank you for reminding us that to read Bunyan rightly is not to decode, but to consent — to allow his images to reawaken the forgotten hunger within us for the long road home, a road where the dust on our feet is itself sacramental, and every burden borne for the King becomes, secretly, a hidden crown.
This so beautiful and evocative. Thank you for that and for joining us here!
The line in Bunyan's Apology:
"nor did I intend But to divert myself in doing this From worser thoughts which make me do amiss" would seem like a reference to the unwanted thoughts that he said would come suddenly into his mind in his autobiography, Grace Abounding. As you know, it is mine and others' theory that Bunyan suffered from religious scrupulousity, a common symptom of what is now known as OCD.
I would love to go on to part two, which has its own cast of interesting characters. In my youth, I always preferred part two to part one, as it seemed more hope filled. Bunyan is gentler on the women and children in the second part than he is on poor Christian in the first.
Vaughan Williams' Fifth Symphony was also originally based on Pilgrim's Progress. Vaughan Williams took the manuscript references Pilgrim's Progress out before the symphony's publication, as he was trying to move away from program music [program music, based on a narrative or topic, is often considered less 'serious' than absolute music, which has no topic or narrative, and Vaughan Williams wanted to be taken seriously]. The 5th symphony is my favourite by Vaughan Williams and I hear Bunyan's story in it, especially in the beautiful 3rd movement, the Romanza: https://youtu.be/oX4pTSRcgSc?feature=shared
So much packed into that little phrases, “unwanted thoughts,” and I think you’re absolutely right that Bunyan suffered exactly that condition. It comes out so much more clearly in Grace Abounding.
I did not know that about Williams’ Fifth Symphony. What a legacy Bunyan gave us!
At this point, I suspect intentional punning.
Oops! Fixed!
I don't know that symphony, but "romance" is sometimes used to mean a narrative generally. My guess would be that the movement would have a kind of musical progression. Would you say it does?
It is more of a musical meditation. In his manuscript of the Romanza, Vaughan Williams wrote this quotation from Bunyan:
'Upon that place there stood a cross
And a little below a sepulchre … Then he said
"He hath given me rest by his sorrow and
Life by his death"'
The music really captures the sense of that moment, an incredible mixture of quiet relief and deep joy, yet subtly mixed with a knowledge of pain and sorrow.
Vaughan Williams was described as a cheerful agnostic, but he edited both the English Hymnal and the Oxford book of Carols, rendering an immense service to English church music, in addition to his indelible impression on English classical and film music.
Thanks for sharing this about Williams. I enjoy his music and did not know much about his background.
So interesting!
Thank you for the link. The symphony is beautiful.
You are welcome, I am always happy for sn opportunity to share Vaughan Williams' beautiful music.
I love Vaughn Williams. Thank you for sharing this.
A few thoughts:
1) If Russell Moore does not visit the substack in the next 6 weeks to leave comments, I'm going to be very disappointed in him.
2) While I am working on reading more of it, I'm not an expert in African literature. However, I have read recently that Bunyan's works--especially, but not exclusively Pilgrim's Progress--had been widely used by colonizers to teach English, and therefore, I've read, colonial and post-colonial African literature has a lot of references and intertextuality with Pilgrim's Progress. (The Life and Death of Mr. Badman is another of his texts I've seen mentioned.)
3) I don't remember, but it seems possible: Does Daniel DeFoe mention Bunyan, especially in either Robinson Crusoe or Moll Flanders? I don't think I have a copy of either text any longer. DeFoe was another dissenter.
This is probably enough for now.
Is Russell Moore on here? I did tell him we were doing this series and he got a good chuckle out of it.
I am not recalling a specific mention of banyan by default. But I think it’s pretty well assumed that Defoe would’ve been very familiar with Bunyan and the influence is very clear.
I wonder if anyone is going to be up for a reading of Robinson Crusoe here? 😃
Not sure. If the choice is between Defoe's or Swift's travel narrative, I'd take Swift's as the more colourful and engaging. I was thoroughly sick of Crusoe by the time we got to the mountain pass and wouldn't have minded terribly if the wolves had put an end to the narrative.
I would love, love, love to do Swift!!
Just seeing now seeing your note Holly. I do understand that perspective. Crusoe does go on a bit!
Yes, to reading Crusoe! We just read it in our church’s book club called “Christ in the Classics” and it led to a lively and thoughtful discussion. I would enjoy reading it with this group, especially after reading Pilgrim’s Progress.
I lived for over a year in West Africa, in a country that was formerly an English colony. I noticed that those who spoke English often used somewhat archaic speech constructs, which, at the time, reminded me of Shakespeare or the English of the King James Bible.
I can't say that I've particularly noticed the references to Bunyan, but I haven't looked for them. I wonder if they appear in Achebe's, Ngugi's, or Soyinka's works.
It’s is foundational it’s like it’s in there whether in it’s in there or not! But still an interesting exploration.
So excited for this reading and a wonderful follow to Paradise Lost! Yes, let’s read Christiana’s journey too. The 17th century is a great place to hang out!
Woot!
Very much looking forward to this series. That quote from CS Lewis on allegory!! My, it's given me a lot to ponder and to savour. Do you have a link for that talk, Karen?
Richard, I’m so glad you’re looking forward to the series. I think sub stack was a little wonky today because I typed out a long reply but now I don’t see it. So if it shows back up later that’s what happened.
The Lewis lecture is reprinted in my Norton critical edition of PP. But I did find the excerpt that I quoted at this website:
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/an-encouragement-to-read-or-reread-john-bunyans-the-pilgrims-progress/
And here’s another crazy thing: I tried to include the footnote to the Lewis quote, but for some reason it wouldn’t go in the same section as the other footnotes. I think that’s because I copied and pasted that section from my book manuscript. I fiddled with it for a while and then just decided I would not include that footnote. And wouldn’t you know? That’s the source you wanted! 🤣
I've found what I think is the actual essay by CSL and have copied it into my Readwise, this link should have it https://readwise.io/reader/shared/01jt1pd5bepg7vb29pawhgcn5z
Excellent! You’re the best, Richard!
Aww, shucks!
Thanks Karen, that's really appreciated. Yes, ain't that just exactly what you'd expect!! 😂 Also, I'd forgotten you had a chapter about PP in On Reading Well so I'm going to have a read of that, too, in readiness.
😃
I'm coming back to this after having just finished listening to the series somewhat late. But just thought I'd chime in a few times. My kids absolutely loved (and still do) this children's poetic paraphrase: The Pilgrim's Progress: A Poetic Retelling of John Bunyan’s Classic Tale by Rousseaux Brasseur. It might not always be the most "accurate," but it conveys the message well enough. And, I admit, I reread Pilgrim's Progress with the book's wonderful illustrations in hand. And I'm 45, so there's that. https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrims-Progress-Retelling-Bunyans-Classic/dp/0736979484/
Oh, thanks for suggesting this version. I love that your kids (and you) love this in poetic form!
Thank you for doing this. I’m looking forward to revisiting PP. In the event that you have subscribers who need to listen to the audiobook or to listen and read simultaneously for comprehension, there is a free audiobook on Librivox:
https://librivox.org/the-pilgrims-progress-by-john-bunyan/
There appear to be a few audiobook versions on YouTube too, though at least two of them used updated language.
Love to Ruby and Eva 💙🐶🐶
Oh, excellent! Thank you for offering that resource.
This is great! An excellent endeavor — and a profitable introduction. Lovely to hear your voice, which adds so richly to the content. Thanks!
Aw! I’m so glad you think so! 😃
Listening to the introduction, where Bunyan tells of the virtues of his book, it will make lazy people bestir themselves, blind see wonderful things, improve your memory etc, it struck me just how much it sounded like a modern ‘self help ‘ book . And I love the way he talks of the ‘bigness ‘ of his book rather than the length
I love this insight! Yes! 😅
I’m on a 7 1/2 hour road trip for work and I’m going back-and-forth between music, podcast, and audiobook, and then I remembered “Oh yes, Karen’s Substack is out, and she usually has an audio version.“ So I was actually thrilled that you are Close 13 minutes long today gave me something else to listen to.
I thought the CS Lewis quote was really helpful. In my understanding of how I should approach this book. You know I’m nervous about it. But I am really happy to be reading it here with you and this group of people. I remember reading about this in “on reading well“, so I’m ready to DavidW. Hey Siri.
Yay for audio for road trips, Mel!
I’m so glad you’re going to be here to read it with us. And I really relish your honest responses as we go along.
I reread this comment! Ha! Isn't it obvious I voice-texted it? "Hey Siri" and everything. I also have no idea who DavidW is! Haha! I obviously didn't proofread it! :-)
This is my life, too! 😂
I know :-), and that's why you kept a straight face. Thanks. Haha!
Me: 😶
This may account for the several mentions of banyan trees.
Reminds me of a student who once wrote a research paper using only a voice-to-text program. I think he was disappointed with the grade. (Edited because I left -ed off of "disappoint," and irony is not dead.)
Thank you for the great intro, Karen! Despite growing up in a book-loving Christian home, getting my English degree from a Christian college, and getting my Master's in English, I've never been much exposed to Bunyan! Had no knowledge of his life, and I'm now intrigued! I would love to read Pilgrims Progress to my kids as they grow up.
Any recommendations for the best (unabridged?!) edition for storytime with kids?
Bunyan's father was a tinker, an occupation often done by the Romani in England, which has led some to suggest that Bunyan may have been of Romani descent, while others disagree. Bunyan says simply:
"For my descent then, it was, as is well known by many, of a low and inconsiderable generation; my father's house being of that rank that is meanest and most despised of all the families of the Land."
He then says, "Yet notwithstanding the meanness and inconsiderableness if my Parents, it pleased God to put it into their heart, to put me to School, to learn both to Read and Write..."
He displays humility even in his humble descent.
But if the kids are petty young, an abridged and illustrated edition is a great start.
I started with an abridged edition titled 'Dangerous Journey'. But its illustrations of Apollyon and the Valley of the Shadow of Death deeply frightened me.
https://lithoskids.com/collections/littlepilgrim?srsltid=AfmBOopALDQfaYIxxmoGFkFJvoMA3vSwF2htm5Ujy2X75-L0EacKkEVB
This is a great edition!
https://a.co/d/7zHLi6N
Do you know what book he was planning to write instead ? The one he almost finished
Bunyan wrote volumes of works, mainly doctrinal treatises. There is one work that was published posthumously that is most like PP. It is called “The Heavenly Footman.” At least one scholar believes that this story and the dream Bunyan writes about in his spiritual autobiography with the direct precursors to PP. I’m not sure if there’s any evidence of a specific work that Bunyan was writing in prison that he put down to write this one. But it could be that tracked that never was published during his lifetime. It too, is an allegory.
Thank you !
I need to stop using voice-to-text! 😂
I did not know this about Louisa Macdonald!! Now I need to dig into HER story a bit (and maybe write a play about her…🤔). Thx for the tip!
And I agree with Nancy that the 17th century is a great place to hang out! I’m currently engrossed in Robert Harris’ historical novel Act of Oblivion and up to my ears in the drama between the royalists and the regicides! Highly recommend…
Looking forward to Pilgrim’s Progress with you all here at the Priory! ❤️
It is a great place to hang out! If you do learn more about MacDonald’s drama so share here!
Will do! 🫡
Just a note here (and will correct it later): I generally publish each Tuesday. Somehow, I got the dates wrong after May 6 on the schedule. Those of you have been following along for a little time know that this is par for the course for me. I don’t know what it is about numbers and dates and calendars for me but here we are. 😑
The introduction on Bunyan's life and times was a bit anxiety provoking to me. It's like reading about the French revolution. In one lifetime the pendulum of political and/or religious extremism can swing back and forth in such a way that one can be in, then out, then in again (if you survive the "out"). Bunyan reminds me to keep my heart anchored in the Celestial City in our own divided times.