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Bunyan fought on the side of Parliament during the English civil War, but did not become a serious in his Christian faith until several years afterward. In 1655 he began preaching and gained a following during the Commonwealth. After the restoration he was arrested and imprisoned twice for "preaching without a license", and it is thought that be began working on his masterpiece while in prison. He was a contemporary of Milton, who wrote Paradise Lost touching some of the same themes as Pilgrim's Progress. They are together considered the two greatest works of 17th century Christian literature, but of the two, Bunyan's work was by far the more widely read. Almost every English Christian home had a copy, along side the Bible, right up until the twentieth century, and many of the characters, anecdotes and place names have passed into common usage.
Birth of John Bunyan, son of a Tinker. | |
Served on the side of Parliament during English Civil War. | |
Married. | |
Became a 'Baptist' preacher with strong Calvinist leanings. | |
Imprisoned for 'preaching without a licence. | |
Imprisoned again for 'preaching without a licence. | |
Publishes Pilgrim's Progress, part I. | |
Publishes Pilgrim's Progress, part II. | |
Death of John Bunyan |
Book Links |
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Bunyan, 1628-1688 in | Saints and Heroes Since the Middle Ages by George Hodges |
Bunyan—'The Pilgrim's Progress' in | English Literature for Boys and Girls by H. E. Marshall |
Pilgrim's Progress' in | The Awakening of Europe by M. B. Synge |
Image Links | ||
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![]() John Bunayn in Saints and Heroes Since the Middle Ages |
![]() During his imprisonment Bunyan wrote the 'Pilgrim's Progress.' in English Literature for Boys and Girls |
Military leader of Parliament who headed the Commonwealth government after death of Charles I. | |
Restored to the throne after death of Cromwell. Presided over the great fire and plague of London. | |
John Milton was friend of Cromwell and a poet. His most famous work was Paradise Lost. |