Most printed book in English language isn't the Bible
12 a.m. Monday, July 2, 2007
Lawrence — "The most often translated book in the English language and the most often printed book in the English language," says Richard Clement, head of the Department of Special Collections at KU's Spencer Research Library.
The Bible may be the book that comes to mind, but Richard says it's Pilgrim's Progress, written by John Bunyan.
But what about the Bible?
"The Bible, of course, is in fact the most often printed book, but it's not written in English, not originally," Richard said.
Written in England in 1678, Pilgrim's Progress does have a religious connection.
"It's a very simple tale. A pilgrim named Christian, who finds heaven. And it is, of course, the ultimate allegory of the movement of any Christian to salvation," Richard said.
Pilgrim's Progress was first translated into Dutch. The Spencer Research Library has the more than 300-year-old edition. It's also the first time the work is illustrated.
Over the centuries the "simple tale" has been translated into many languages, from Spanish to Welsh to Hawaiian.
"Here's one in Inuit, that is Eskimo," Richard said.
Styles of the book include a pop-up version. Even Marvel Comics created a special edition.
John Bunyan did not have a higher education, nor was he part of the intellectual elite. Richard says Bunyan spent most of his life in jail because he refused to give up his religion and pledge allegiance to the Church of England. He wrote Pilgrim's Progress while in jail.
Even so, he became known as one of the greatest authors in the English language because of the impact of his book.
"Pilgrim's Progress was under the radar screen. For centuries it was being read by common people. It was a piece of popular literature. So it wasn't that high elevated literature, and so it was being read by far more people," he said.
"The text is - has a life of its own. And has influenced countless people. And that's why it was translated into so many languages. Because it was so effective. It still resonates with a good many people," says Richard.
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