And so it was with Bunyan.

Bunyan's _Holy War_ has its great and abiding and commanding power over us just because he composed it with his eye fixed on his own heart.
My readers, I have somewhat else to do, Than with vain stories thus to trouble you; What here I say some men do know so well They can with tears and joy the story tell.

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Then lend thine ear to what I do relate, Touching the town of Mansoul and her state: For my part, I (myself) was in the town, Both when 'twas set up and when pulling down.
Let no man then count me a fable-maker, Nor make my name or credit a partaker Of their derision: what is here in view Of mine own knowledge, I dare say is true.
The characters in the _Holy War_ are not as a rule nearly so clear-cut or so full of dramatic life and movement as their fellows are in the _Pilgrim's Progress_, and Bunyan seems to have felt that to be the case.
He shows all an author's fondness for the children of his imagination in the _Pilgrim's Progress_.

He returns to and he lingers on their doings and their sayings and their very names with all a foolish father's fond delight.