One of the most famous pieces of literature is John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, an allegory of the Christian journey through life. It continues to be widely read and enjoyed and has been rewritten in various forms over the years.

I have worked on a contemporary version of this work which has now been published. This contemporary version includes updated grammar and spelling as well as explanatory annotations and references to Scriptures Bunyan alludes to.

You can view/purchase the current edition (and all future editions will be free updates) from Amazon.

Modern Editions of The Pilgrim’s Progress

• The Pilgrim’s Progress. Ransom Press International, 2021.
  • English Updated by Russell M. Stendal, includes editor’s note and additional notes.
• Pilgrim’s Progress in Today’s English. Moody Publishers, 1964, 1992.
  • “Retold by James H. Thomas”
• The New Amplified Pilgrim’s Progress. Orion Gates, 1999.
  • By Jim Pappas.

Public Domain Editions of The Pilgrim’s Progress

I’ve created a partial list of copies of The Pilgrim’s Progress that seem to be in the public domain. Most of these will have been published 100+ years ago and use antiquated language.

• 1926 edition published by Houghton Mifflin Company, 333 pp.
  • Includes an introduction by Charles Whibley, also includes illustrations.
• 1917 edition published by Oliver Ditson Company, Chas. H. Ditson Co., Lyon & Healy.
  • A Musical Miracle Play based on Pilgrim’s Progress and written by Elizabeth Hodgkinson.
• 1914 edition published by Fleming H. Revell Company.
  • Young People’s Pilgrim’s Progress, by S. J. Reid, introduction by George W. Truett. Includes exposition and illustrations.
• 1911 edition published by Henry Holt and Company, 237 pp.
  • Edited by J. H. Gardner, Professor of English at Harvard University. Includes an introduction, bibliography, and notes.
• 1910 edition published by J. M. Debt & Sons Ltd. and E. P. Dutton & Co., 315 pp.
  • Reprinted 1927, 1930.
  • Contains largely the text of the work with an apology for the work extracted from Bunyan’s Holy War.
• 1908 edition published by Cassell and Company, Ltd., 335 pp.
  • Contains almost exclusively the text of the work, but also a brief editor’s note and an index.
• 1907 edition publisher by University Press.
  • Part of the Cambridge English Classics series. Edited by John Brown. Includes Grace Abounding.
• 1906 edition published by Scott, Foresman and Company, 256 pp.
  • Reprinted 1922.
  • Part of the series The Lake English Classics. Edited “for school use” by George W. Latham, University of Montreal.
• 1905 edition published by Longmans, Green, and Co. (republished in 1909, 1916), 188 pp.
  • Includes notes and an introduction by Dr. Charles Sears Baldwin, a Professor of Rhetoric at Columbia University. Also includes illustrations and a biography.
• 1905 edition published by The MacMillan Company, 471 pp.
  • Reprints: 1907, 1908, 1910, 1911.
  • Edited, introduction, and notes by James Hugh Moffatt, Professor of English Literature at Central High School in Philadelphia.
• 1904 edition published by R. F. Fenno & Company.
  • Contains the text of the work.
• 1904 edition published by Cassell and Company.
  • Includes an introduction by G. K. Chesterton.
• 1903 edition published by John C. Nimmo Ltd.
  • Illustrations by William Strang. Text of the work only.
• 1896 edition published by Macmillan & Co., 168 pp.
  • Edited, introduction, and notes by John Morrison, Principal, General Assembly’s Institution Church of Scotland Mission.
• 1895 edition published by Elliot Stock, 233 pp.*
  • A facsimile of the 1st edition of Pilgrim’s Progress (published 1678).
  • Includes an introduction by Dr. John Brown.
• 1895 edition published by John C. Nimmo.
  • Illustrated by William Strang.
• 1892 edition published by John C. Winston & Co.
  • Includes illustrations by Frederick Barnard and others and engraved by the Dalziel Brothers. An introductory notice by William Landels.
• 1890 edition published by Ginn & Company, 119 pp.
  • Abridged and edited, includes biography and footnotes.
• 1889 edition published by Keystone Publishing Co.
  • Introductory Memoir by Cheever, nearly 500 illustrations, index.
• 1887 edition published by Hodder and Stoughton, 380 pp.
  • Edited, introduction and notes by Rev. John Brown, compare to 1895 edition published by Elliot Stock.
• 1885 edition published by John B. Alden, 162 pp.
• 1884 edition published by J. B. Lippincott & Co., 491 pp.
  • Includes illustrations by the Dalziel Bros.
• 1881 edition published by John Hogg.
  • Includes life and bibliographical notes by Southey, illustrations by W. Harvey, publisher’s note, text of work.
• 1880 edition published by Strahan and Company, Limited.
  • Illustrations by Frederick Barnard and others, includes text of the work.
• 1880 edition published by American Book Exchange.
  • Illustrations by Frederick Barnard and others, text of work.
• 1878 edition published by George Routledge & Sons.
  • Illustrations by J. D. Watson, includes text of work.
• 1878 edition published by Hitchcock & Walden, 707 pp.
  • Includes not only Pilgrim’s Progress but also The Holy War and Grace Abounding (Bunyan’s autobiography).
  • Includes notes by Rev. Joseph Ivimey and a marginal index.
• 1877 edition published by Gall & Inglis.
  • Includes notes and memoir by James Inglis and forty illustrations (wood engravings).
• 1876 edition published by Elliot Stock, Benjamin West.
  • “The Illustrated Polyglot Pilgrim’s Progress” includes numerous illustrations and is in both English and French.
• 1875 edition published by Elliot Stock.
  • Facsimile of 1st edition, includes preface.
• 1875 edition published by The Religious Tract Society.
  • Includes memoir of Bunyan.
• 1874 edition published by Cassell, Petter, and Galpin.
  • Notes by Rev. Robert Maguire, incumbent of Clerkenwell. Illustrated by H. C. Selous and M. Paolo Priolo.
• 1872 edition published by Leavitt, and Allen Bros.
  • Includes a Life of Bunyan by Robert Southey, illustrations by Thomas Dalziel.
• 1871 edition published by MacMillan and Co.
  • Includes some notes, excerpt from Holy War.
• 1870 edition published by S. W. Partridge & Co.
  • Includes an introduction and notes by Rev. William Landels as well as color illustrations.
• 1869 edition published by Bradbury, Evans, & Co.
  • Illustrated by Charles D. Bennett, includes preface.
• 1868 edition published by Frederick Warne and Co. and by Scribner, 237 pp.
  • Brief biography.
• 1867 edition published by George Routledge & Sons.
  • Includes memoir and notes by George Offor, includes illustrations by J. D. Watson.
• 1865 edition published by Elliot Stock.
• 1865 edition published by A. Fullarton & Co.
  • Illustrations by Dabid and William B. Scott; essay by Lord Macaulay.
• 1863 edition published by James Nisbet & Co.
  • Includes text of work, notes by Thomas Scott.
• 1860 edition published by James Hogg & Sons.
  • Illustrated by C. A. Doyle.
• 1860 edition published by Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 399 pp.
  • Includes illustrations by Charles Bennett and a preface by Charles Kingsley.
• 1859 edition published by J. W. Bradley, 531 pp.*
  • Includes Grace Abounding, and “The original side-notes, which often throw much light on the text”. Pilgrim’s Progress begins on pg. 109.
• 1857 edition published by George Routledge & Co., 360 pp.
  • Includes a memoir and notes by George Offor, esq. Illustrated by John Gilbert.
• 1857 edition published by Leary and Getz.
  • Includes notes by Thomas Scott and an essay on the Life and Writings of Bunyan by Josiah Conder.
• 1856 edition published by Savill & Edwards, 335 pp.
  • Includes illustrations by J. R. Clatton and a biography by J. L. Williams.
• 1855 edition published by Johnstone & Hunter.
  • Text of the work only.
• 1854 edition published by Phillips, Sampson, & Co.
  • Tom Scott.
• 1854 edition published by J. C. Derby, H. W. Derby.
  • Includes life of Bunyan by Southey, illustrations by Adams, a few appendixes, the original edition was published 1836.
• 1853 edition published by Ingram, Cooke, and Co.
  • J. M. Hare, J. R. Clayton, J. L. Williams.
• 1853 edition published by Houlston and Stoneman.
  • “A New Edition” with six wood engravings.
• 1853 edition published by R. T. Young.
  • Includes notes by Scott, Mason, and others as well as illustrations, a life, and introduction.
• 1851 edition published by William Collins, 400 pp.
  • Includes an introductory essay by James Montgomery and notes by Rev. Thomas Scott.
  • Compare to 1839 edition published by Longman and Co., et al.
• 1851 edition published by Robert Carter & Brothers.
  • Tom Scott.
• 1851 edition published by George P. Putnam.
  • Includes memoir of Bunyan by George Cheever, illustrations by Dalziel.
• 1849 edition published by William Pickering, 354 pp.
  • Includes marginal notes.
• 1847 edition published by J. Haddon.
  • Extensive introduction by George Offor, some footnotes.
• 1847 edition published by Edwin Hunt.
  • Includes notes and life of author by Thomas Scott.
• 1846 edition published by Thomas Nelson.
  • Includes Mason‘s notes.
• 1845 edition published by Lane & Tippett, James Collord.
  • Introduction, index, notes, etc. by Stephen B. Wickens. Edited by George Tippett.
• 1843 edition published by J. Toller, 366 pp.
  • Includes only the text of the work.
• 1842 edition published by The Religious Tract Society, 475 pp.
  • The linked digital copy is of poor quality.
• 1841 edition published by William Andrus, 360 pp.
  • Notes by Thomas Scott. Includes a Preface and life of Bunyan.
• 1839 edition published by Longman and Co.; Hatchard and Son; Hamilton, Adams, and Co.; J. Nisbet and Co.; Duncan and Malcolm; Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.; and L. and G. Seeley, 408 pp.
  • Includes both parts with notes by Rev. Thomas Scott, Rector of Aston Sanford, Bucks.
  • This is the 6th edition.
• 1838 edition published by Joseph Rickerby.
  • Memoir by J. A. St. John, additional material by Henry Wood, includes preface.
• 1838 edition published by Fisher, Son, and Co.
  • Includes notes by William Mason and life of Bunyan by Josiah Conder, as well as engravings.
  • This is the 2nd edition.
• 1837 edition published by Harper & Brothers, 349 pp.
  • Includes a life of Bunyan by Robert Southey and illustrations by Adams.
• 1834 edition published by Harding and King, 118 pp.
  • “Metrically Condensed” by T. Dibdin.
• 1834 edition published by the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, 179 pp.
  • Abridged, includes illustrations, a preface.
• 1831 edition published by Silas Andrus.
  • Includes notes by Thomas Scott, a preface, a life of Bunyan.
• 1831 edition published by J. H. Turney, 341 pp.
• 1830 edition published by John Murray and John Major.
  • Includes life of Bunyan by Southey and illustrations.
• 1828 edition published by William Collins, 584 pp.
  • Includes introductory essay by James Montgomery and notes by Thomas Scott.
  • Compare to 1839 and 1851 editions.
• 1820 edition published by Hurst, Robinson, and Co.
  • Includes life of the author, illustrations by Richard Westall.
• 1820 edition published by Thomas Kelly, 508 pp.
  • Includes a biography of the author and some illustrations by Richard Westall.
• 1819 edition published by J. Barfield, Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge.
  • Includes illustrations, text of work, notes by Mason.
• 1818 edition published by Benjamin Olds, J. and E. Sandersons.
  • Life of the author, notes, illustrations.
• 1817 edition published by Thomas Kelly.
  • Includes life of Bunyan, illustrations.
• 1817 edition published by N. Cheever, 346 pp.
  • Includes notes by Thomas Scott as well as a preface and life of Bunyan.
• 1815 edition published by W. Pratt & Co.
  • Explanatory notes by W. Mason and others, includes a life and some epitaphs at the end.
• 1811 edition published by Andrew Wilson.
  • “Stereotype Edition”, includes wood engravings by Clennell.
• 1811 edition published by John Tiebout, Paul & Thomas.
  • Life of author, notes, illustrations.
• 1809 edition published by J. Heming.
  • Includes a life of Bunyan and notes.
• 1809 edition published by C. Brightley and T. Kinnersley.
  • Includes some notes.
• 1804 edition published by John Tiebout, L. Nichols.
  • Includes text of the three parts as well as a life of Bunyan.
• 1801 edition published by L. B. Seeley.*
  • Thomas Scott, Chaplain to the Lock Hospital. Includes a preface, notes, index.
• 1801 edition published by Chapman & Lang.
  • Includes Life and Death of the Author.
• 1799 edition published by Sowler and Russell, 290 pp.
  • Includes notes, biography.
• 1799 edition published by The Religious Tract Society, 378 pp.
• 1799 edition published for A. Millar, W. Law, R. Cater, Wilson, Spence, and Mawman, 344 pp.
  • 121st edition, includes cuts, biography of Bunyan.
• 1796 edition published by T. Heptinstall.
  • Includes life of Bunyan and a “key” to Pilgrim’s Progress.
• 1796 edition published by S. Hazard.
  • “An Entire New Edition” with a biography.
• 1795 edition published by J. and J. Carrick.
  • Rendered into blank verse by J. S. Dodd.
  • Includes a preface and biography, index, and notes.
• 1795 edition published by G. Barrett; J. Saunders, 238+ pp.*
  • Includes an index; includes a life of Bunyan; notes by Thomas Scott.
• 1795 edition published by J. and M. Robertsons, 576 pp.
• 1794 edition published for the Booksellers.
  • Includes a biography of Bunyan.
• 1792 edition published by W. Osborne, T. Griffin.
• 1792 edition published by G. Terry, J. Mathews, Scatcherd and Whitaker.
• 1791 edition published by M. Luckman.
  • Includes notes by George Burder.
• 1789 edition published by G. Swindells.
• 1787 edition published by Osborne and Griffin, J. Mozley.
  • “A new edition”
• 1785 edition published by J. Osborne, T. Griffin, J. Mozley.
  • 59th edition, illustrated, text of work.
• 1783 edition published by J. Caddel, T. Dodsley, A. Baldwin, R. Millar.
  • “A new edition”
• 1778 edition published by H. Trapp and A. Hogg.
  • Includes notes by W. Mason.
  • Claims to be “a new edition” with better copperplates than any previous edition.
  • Published in two volumes, first is linked above, second volume is here.
• 1776 edition published by Vallance and Simmons.
  • Includes life and death of Bunyan, fairly extensive notes by W. Mason.
• 1775 edition published by Browne and Coslett, T. Axtell, J. Whitaker, T. Waters, R. Shaw.
• 1774 edition published by John Robertson.
  • 45th edition.
• 1773 edition published by W. Darling.
  • 55th edition.
• 1772 edition published by W. Darling.
  • 44th edition.
• 1771 edition published by W. Johnston.
  • Reprinted 1775.
  • 32nd edition “with Additions of New Cuts.” Includes a biography of Bunyan at the end and an elegy as well as marginal notes throughout.
• 1770 edition published by Henry Galbraith.
• 1767 edition published by W. Johnston, H. Woodfall, J. Rivington, W. Strahan, R. Baldwin, B. Law, J Fuller.
  • 32nd edition.
• 1766 edition published by W. Johnston, H. Woodfall, W. Strahan, J. Rivington, R. Baldwin, B. Law, and J. Fuller.
  • 31st edition, includes engravings by J. Sturt.
• 1765 edition published by L. Hawes and Company, W. Johnston, S. Crowder, M. Richardson.
  • 20th edition.
• 1760 edition published by W. Johnston.
  • 30th edition, engraved by J. Sturt.
  • Includes a preface.
• 1765 edition published by S. Creswell.
  • 31st edition.
• 1758 edition published by Bookfellers.
  • 30th edition, with “new copper plate cuts”. Also life of author.
• 1757 edition published by W. Johnston, Golden-Ball.
  • 29th edition, includes illustrations by J. Sturt, editor’s preface.
• 1755 edition published by A.W.
  • 21st edition.
• 1750 edition published by John Hall.
• 1749 edition published by W. Johnston, 409 pp.
  • 27th edition, includes engravings by J. Sturt.
  • Includes a preface, marginal notes.
• 1741 edition published by J. Clarke.
  • 23rd edition.
  • Includes engravings by J. Sturt.
• 1738 edition published by A.W. for J. Clarke.
  • Reprinted 1743.
  • 25th edition.
• 1718 edition published by M. Boddington.
  • 19th edition.
• 1708 edition published by W. O. for A. Bittefworth.
  • 7th edition.
• 1693 edition published for Robert Ponder, 180 pp.
  • Contains the text of the work. Linked online scan is rough.
• 1680 edition published by John Cairns, 165 pp.
  • 5th edition.
  • This one includes * where the marginal notes are meant to be read which is quite helpful.
• 1678 edition published by Baker & Taylor, 232 pp.
  • Includes a preface, marginal notes.
• 1678 edition published by Elliot Stock, 233 pp.
  • Facsimile of the 1st edition.
  • Includes a preface regarding the decision to use the 1st edition.