Pilgrim's Progress

by Gary D. Schmidt

Book Overview

National Book Award finalist and two-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary D. Schmidt recaptures the classic tale of one man's spiritual journey in this contemporary retelling of John Bunyan's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802850804
• ISBN13: 9780802850805
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 76 Pages
• Weight: 1.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 9.4" x 12.3"
• Age Range: 11 to 15 years
• Grade Range: Grades 6 to 10

Customer Reviews

Achieves Its Goal

Schmidt and Moser do a great job of bringing this classic spiritual tale to life especially for modern, young readers. I lead a church class for "tweens" and reading out loud a chapter each week has not only kept their attention, but has also generated lively conversation. Also, the illustrations are wonderful.

A super version and now there's a music CD available for it!

This is a wonderful verison of Pilgrim's Progress. It reads beautifully and while it does not have all of the scriptural references it hits the mark enought o inspire most people. I know many people who have read this one and then gone on to read the original work. There is also a music CD available with contemporary Christian songs that tie to the story line. ........

Enthralling version for children

I read John Bunyan's original work and found it wonderful, but I didn't feel it would entrance my children the way it did me with all of the heavy phraseology littered throughout the story. I normally detest "retellings" because they are usually literary trash not worthy of the time spent reading them.This book was different. The story is extremely well written and maintains the rich flavor of the original story of Christian's journey of faith and his arrival in the Enchanted City. I read this version aloud to my four children, and they loved it. It is a chapter book, even though it looks like a simple "storybook." We took about a week with it at an approximately 20 minute per day rate. There are some alterations from the original, but nothing that changes the tone of the story. The illustrations are exquisite, and I love how there are small paintings scattered throughout the text and not just large, page filling pictures. We checked it out from the library to read, and I enjoyed it so much I am planning to purchase a copy for our home collection.

Inspiring and moving

I have read the original Pilgrim's Progress a few times and portions of it many times. I have also read various versions and several of John Bunyan's other writings. I personally love the theology and consider it essential. Mr. Schmidt's version of the story is compelling for some important reasons. Though it does not contain the lengthy discussions of theology, it opens a door via the story line to share the story with someone else. He has added some This hopefully will raise questions and hopefully a healthy discussion of the things that John Bunyan was trying to communicate to his church members whom he wrote this story for. As I understand it, John Bynyan was using allegory (like Jesus used parables) to make important Biblically grounded truths understandable to his people. This retelling hopefully will be the springboard for many to share their faith. Those that believe already will find wonderful illustrations and a unique and encouraging way of seeing their own journey through this world to the Celestial City.

Allegorical Adventures

This retelling of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is a journey through the back countries of one's mind. Pilgrim takes the reader along the stages, discoveries, and challenges each person faces in his or her life. Each time Pilgrim faces and makes a decision, it forces a look within. The author takes this classic tale and moves it into contemporary language and idioms familiar to modern readers. By translating the essence of traditional religion into secular experience, Schmidt captures the struggles and solutions which face every person daily. Moser's beautiful watercolors crystalize the experience without diminishing the broad range of responses to the story. A wide range of readers will find themselves absorbed in the journey.