The Holy War

allegory by Bunyan

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Article History

The Holy War, allegory by John Bunyan, published in 1682. It unfolds the story of the town of Mansoul, which is besieged by the hosts of the devil, is relieved by the army of Emanuel, and is later undermined by further diabolic attacks and plots against his rule. The metaphor works on several levels; it represents the conversion and backslidings of the individual soul, as well as the story of humanity from the Fall to the Redemption and the Last Judgment. There is even a more precise historical level of allegory related to the persecution of Nonconformists under Charles II. While its epic structure is carefully wrought, it is lacking in the spontaneous inward note of Pilgrim’s Progress.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.