John Bunyan in Book History
John Bunyan in Book History: Four Centuries of the Circulation and Transformation of a Global Print Brand
Curator: Sylvia Brown
26 August 2019 - 16 March 2020
An extraordinary man and writer, John Bunyan was a dissenting preacher who was imprisoned for defying the state. He was the author of many books, including the enduringly popular Pilgrim’s Progress. This exhibition tells the story of Bunyan’s importance in the history of the book: for the development of cheap books that were accessible to all classes of readers, including illustrated books and books for children, and for the celebrity cult of the author which inspired special folio editions and memorabilia as well as opportunistic forgeries. This exhibition closed several weeks earlier than expected when the Peel library was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn how the Peel library acquired the first Maori edition of Pilgrim's Progress here: "A Bookish Tribute to Honorary Degree Recipients: A Unique Endowment at University of Alberta Funds Rare Book Acquisitions," University Affairs (Sept 2019).
