This Christian allegory written in 1678 by John Bunyan is more fully entitled The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World To That Which Is To Come.  It is often said to be the first novel written in English .  Certainly, it is the first English novel to be written while the author was imprisoned.

Significantly, it is deemed one of the most important religious works in English literature.  It is a work in two parts.  Both of these in reaction against the Church of England as a willful act of conscience and in violation of the Conventicle Act.  It seems that Mr. Bunyan felt he had not said enough in his spiritual autobiography, Grace Abounding To the Chief of Sinners.  To which I say, that’s the spirit!

The Pilgrim’s Progress breathes into our imaginations as a dream sequence narrated by Christian who while omniscient is also symbolically everyman.  The first half of the tale details his journey from this world  to heaven; from the City of Destruction to Heaven.  During the length of his travels he is burdened down by knowledge of his unbearable sins and his strong desire to find his deliverance.  The second half of the book depicts a similar journey taken by his wife and kindred and allegorizes the journey of Christian life.

The first part of this work’s journey may be read here:

http://www.bartleby.com/15/1/103.html#281

Or listened to in an audiobook format here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvO-aU7qqiE