John Bunyan's Long Way to Sweden and Finland in the Eighteenth Century

• Published in: Bunyan studies no. 16; p. 121
• Main Author: Laine, Tuija
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newcastle Upon Tyne Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences 01.01.2012
• Subjects: British & Irish literature; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); Bunyan, John (1628-88); English literature
• ISSN: 0954-0970

The reason for the relative unpopularity of the English devotional books in this early period was not their emphasis on evangelical reform or their stress on the majesty of God; nor was it their biblical quality or ethical and moral teachings, although the nature of the latter occasionally provoked negative responses among translators and the censorship authorities. Lagerström wanted to know if the book had been granted printing permission. Because the Chapter was not unanimous, its decision was postponed until the next meeting. According to Hellekant, there had been a new edition, but Esking considers this improbable, not believing that the same book could have been published twice in ten years.17 In fact, however, it was not unusual for many editions of Bunyan's books to be published within such a short time. [...]the book The Jerusalem-Sinner Saved had been published three times in Swedish during the 1780s (in 1780, 1781 and 1787).18 Reception of Bunyan's books in Finland during the eighteenth century During the 1750s, John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress and Arthur Dent's The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven were the most popular English devotional books in Finland.