In offering to the public another volume on my plan of reducing popular tales into words of one syllable exclusively, I wish it to be clearly understood that it is intended for Adult Beginners, no less than for Children. There is a large class of persons who do not begin to acquire the art of reading till somewhat late in life, and it is for such that I think a book of this character is peculiarly applicable.

It may be objected that my system involves the use of words which, though short, are difficult to understand, and might be made more intelligible in polysyllabic language. But I have endeavoured as far as possible to avoid hard and technical expressions, and I cannot but think that the mere fact of the brevity of the words must be a great attraction to beginners of all ages. By this method the labour of dividing and accentuating words is avoided: a difficulty which pupils who have only attained to the knowledge of monosyllables cannot conquer by independent effort.

I have thought it necessary to retain all the names of Persons and Places in their original form, but this is the only exception to my general rule.

From the Preface

Robert Lawson in this book performs a great service for a great and beloved book. Though Bunyan's PILGRIM'S PROGRESS has appeared in innumerable editions during the 260 years it has been a household word, it had become lost to modern readers by the length and wordiness of the original. Few knew what a moving, adventurous and exciting tale it really is.

Mr. Lawson now gives it back to modern readers young and old with his beautiful and lively picture-accompaniment to a lovely retelling of the text. Though reduced to less than one-fifth of the original length, it retains every important character and episode of the great tale.

Especially for the many children who, finding Bunyan's original a veritable Slough of Despond, have, like Pliable, given up and gone home, this volume will prove a delightful way of becoming acquainted with one of the most widely read and important stories ever written.

From the dust jacket of the Robert Lawson illustrated reprint