John Bunyan: The Journey of a Pilgrim

John Bunyan (1628-1688), known to most English 101 students as the author of The Pilgrim's Progress—which chronicles the struggles of the pilgrim Christian as he makes his arduous way from the City of Destruction in this world to the Celestial City in the next—is the subject of this engaging documentary. Filmed at the John Bunyan Museum in Bedford, England, the program is narrated by Bunyan scholar John Pestell (author of Travel with John Bunyan), who actually lived in the Bunyan cottage, where his parents were caretakers. Providing historical context fleshed out with artwork and illustrations, Pestell takes us from his subject's troubled childhood up through his defection from the official church, after which his illegal preaching (not allowed outside of the state church) led to his imprisonment as a nonconformist until his death. Although The Pilgrim's Progress, written during his 12-year confinement, was a bestseller (and remains so), Bunyan also wrote other works, which are detailed here. A solid production suitable for both literature and religious history collections, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Reed)