| A Classic Tale Modernized | | | | "allegory") of our progress through life. |
| Author Interview with Tim Dowley, Pilgrims’ | | | | Q: Please share some of the circumstances |
| Progress | | | | surrounding Bunyan’s writing of The |
| By Lisa M. Hendey | | | | Pilgrim’s Progress. |
| A man, burdened by the weight of the world on his | | | | A: John Bunyan was a seventeenth century English |
| shoulders, sets out on an epic journey to find | | | | tinker, who made pots and pans to sell. He became a |
| salvation for himself, his wife and family. Along the | | | | Christian and began to pastor his own church. At that |
| way, he meets dark characters, scary situations, and | | | | time, it was forbidden to preach unless you were an |
| a shady personality or two. Ultimately, he attains his | | | | "official" preacher - and so John Bunyan was thrown |
| goal and the gates of heaven swing open to | | | | into prison at Bedford, a town north of London, |
| welcome him. | | | | England. He had always loved stories, and while he |
| Prolific author Tim Dowley has made the old new | | | | was in prison, he started to write Pilgrim's Progress, |
| again with his wonderful retelling of John | | | | using his knowledge of the Bible and the folk tales |
| Bunyan’s classic, The Pilgrim’s Progress | | | | and nursery stories he knew and loved. |
| (Kregel, November 2004, hardcover, 80 pages). | | | | Q: What steps and challenges went into adapting this |
| Twenty-first century kids (and their parents) will find | | | | wonderful tale for young and contemporary readers? |
| themselves captivated by Dowley’s | | | | A: I have tried to retell all the main events in Bunyan's |
| modernized version of this seventeenth century | | | | book, and selected the most dramatic episodes. Like |
| classic. Illustrator Steve Smallman’s brilliant | | | | Bunyan, I have tried to tell the story in direct speech |
| artwork combines with Dowley’s storytelling | | | | wherever I can, so that it reads more like a play than |
| to create a fresh, vibrant effect. While some of the | | | | a novel. (Young readers might like to try acting it out, |
| prose (and wardrobe) have been updated, this | | | | or getting different friends to read different parts.) I |
| version of The Pilgrim’s Progress remains a | | | | have kept most of Bunyan's wonderful character |
| wonderful way to emphasize morality and values | | | | names - but some I have modernized, where today's |
| with your children in a manner that will capture their | | | | reader wouldn't understand the old language. |
| attention and imagination. | | | | Q: The illustrations in your new book are a wonderful |
| I recently had the opportunity to interview Tim | | | | complement. Do you feel they capture the essence |
| Dowley on the process of revisiting this time-honored | | | | of the message you were trying to share? |
| tale. | | | | A: We asked Steve Smallman to illustrate the book |
| Q: Tim Dowley, author of the newly released | | | | because he is very good at portraying unusual and |
| Pilgrims’ Progress and so many other | | | | characterful people. He has illustrated many children's |
| wonderful Bible resources, thank you for your time | | | | books, and I believe stands in a tradition of English |
| and for participating in this Book Spotlight interview. | | | | art that is particularly suited to a book that has its |
| Please tell our readers a bit about yourself. | | | | roots in the English countryside and English history |
| A: I am a full-time author and book editor, and have | | | | and storytelling. |
| written many Christian children's books and adult Bible | | | | Q: Why is it important that today's generation hear |
| reference volumes. I live with wife and family of | | | | and appreciate John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress? Is |
| three young children in Clapham in south London, | | | | Pilgrim's burden as heavy today as it was in the |
| England. | | | | 1600’s? |
| Q: John Bunyan’s Pilgrims’ Progress is | | | | A: It's important for today's generation to read |
| indeed a classic. What prompted you to take on this | | | | Pilgrim's Progress not only because it is a classic, but |
| project? | | | | also because it is an extraordinarily readable and |
| A: Bunyan's story has been published in countless | | | | exciting story, and teaches us great truths and |
| versions and editions since Bunyan first wrote it in | | | | values. |
| Bedford Jail, where he was imprisoned for his beliefs | | | | Q: Do you have any future writing projects in the |
| over 300 years ago. I wanted to create a version | | | | works? |
| for the 21st century that was faithful to Bunyan's | | | | A: I am at present working on a new first Bible for |
| story and language, but attractive and readable for | | | | children and an exciting book for grown-ups about |
| today's children. | | | | archaeological discoveries and the light they shed on |
| Q: For readers who haven't read your book or The | | | | Scripture. |
| Pilgrim's Progress please tell us about the story? | | | | Q: Tim Dowley, thank you so much for your time |
| A: In brief, the story tells of Christian's dangerous and | | | | and for this wonderful book and so many of the |
| often lonely journey from the City of Destruction to | | | | other great resources you've written for children and |
| the Celestial City (Heaven). On the way he has | | | | adults. Are there any parting thoughts you’d |
| countless adventures and meets any number of | | | | like to share with our readers? |
| extraordinary, odd, unpleasant and sometimes helpful | | | | A: I hope you enjoy reading Pilgrim's Progress and |
| people, including Faithful, Evangelist, Giant Despair and | | | | one day can visit England and see the place where |
| Apollyon, the Foul Fiend! The story is a picture (or | | | | John Bunyan lived and preached. |
