" At last I have read it! Bunyan wrote this allegory of a Christian life in in 1678 so it has taken me a little time. At a time when religion is being cast aside like a disposable surplice, Bunyan's persecution because of his preaching is a remarkable event. The context of the story is a dream that Bunyan has about the pilgrimage of Christian who left his wife and children to find the Celestial City and of the various misfortunes and people he met on the way. Bunyan makes it easy for us by naming his chracters after their personalities, Hopeful and faithful for example. In part two his wife follows him with their children, her journey is a little less harrowing. The margins notes refer both to the writing and the relevant biblical texts. The illustrations are the originals from the first edition. It should be read both for the historical context, and its importance in the corpus of English literature. You should not limit yourself by just singing, "To be a pilgrim...." "
— Stan, 2/3/2014