“Portrait of the Author, supported by Faith, Hope, and Charity” taken from The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan; 1876 edition with notes by the Rev. Thomas Scott, published by Chatto & Windus, London, England.
The Pilgrim’s Progress, of which there are two different editions in the Glessner library, is a Christian allegory which was originally published in two parts in 1678 and 1684. Still regarded as one of the most important works of both early modern English literature and Protestant devotional literature, it has been translated into more than 200 languages and has never been out of print. It is told by a narrator in a dream sequence, and follows the challenging journey of the main character, Christian, from his hometown, the “City of Destruction” (representing Earth), to the “Celestial City” atop Mount Zion. The story emphasizes the need for faith perseverance, and resilience to achieve salvation.
The author, John Bunyan (1628-1888), was an English minister, who was imprisoned in 1660 for violating what was known as the Conventicle Act, prohibiting the holding of religious services outside of the established Church of England. It is believed he started writing the novel about four years into his twelve year prison term.
The illustrations for the 1876 edition were by the prominent English painter Thomas Stothard (1755-1834), and were engraved by Richard Woodman II (1784-1859), originally for an 1839 edition of the book.