Arthur Dent (died 1607) was the author of The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven, first published in 1601. This one of the two books that John Bunyan read before or during the four years of spiritual struggle that led eventually to his conversion, and his subsequent writing of Pilgrim's Progress. The other title was The Practice of Piety by Lewis Bayly. These two books were originally in the possession of his first wife, and described as being the whole of her dowry. Events January 20 - Tidal wave swept along the Bristol Channel, killing 2000 people. ... Events February 8 - Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, rebels against Elizabeth I of England - revolt is quickly crushed February 25 - Robert Devereux beheaded Jesuit Matteo Ricci arrives in China Bad harvest in Russia due to rainy summer Dutch troops drive Portuguese from Málaga Battle of Kinsale, Ireland Births... John Bunyan. ... The Pilgrims Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come by John Bunyan (published 1678) is an allegorical novel. ... Lewis Bayly (born perhaps at Carmarthen, Wales, perhaps near Biggar, Scotland, year unknown; died at Bangor, Wales, October 26, 1631) was an Anglican bishop. ...

Arthur Dent was a preacher of the word of God at South Shoobery in Essex. Essex is a county in the East of England. ...

Dent's books went into many subsequent editions. A 27th edition appeared in 1648 and a 41st edition in 1831. Early impressions are very rare and command collectors' prices in the antiquarian books trade. The work also profoundly influenced Richard Baxter, who recast it in 1674 as The Poor Man's Family Book. // Events January 17 - Englands Long Parliament passes the Vote of No Address, breaking off negotiations with King Charles I and thereby setting the scene for the second phase of the English Civil War. ... Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Richard Baxter Richard Baxter (November 12?, 1615 - December 8, 1691) was an English Puritan church leader, called by Dean Stanley the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen. He was born at Rowton, in Shropshire, at the house of his maternal grandfather. ... Events February 19 - England and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Westminster. ...

Trivia

In 1972, Arthur Dent was paid the peculiar tribute of being the name of the anti-hero in Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the title of which has (allegedly, by mere coincidence) a curious similarity to that of Dent's own book. 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Simon Jones as an upset Arthur Dent, watching his home being demolished in the first episode of the BBC TV series. ... Douglas Noël Adams (March 11, 1952 – May 11, 2001) was a British author, comic radio dramatist, and amateur musician. ... The cover of the first novel in the Hitchhikers series, from a late 1990s printing. ...

Works

• The plaine mans path-way to heauen : wherein euery man may clearly see, whether he shall be saued or damned : set forth dialogue wise, for the better vnderstanding of the simple, by Arthur Dent, London : Imprinted for Robert Dexter, and are to be sold at the signe of the brazen serpent in Powles Church-yard, 1601
• The opening of heauen gates, or, The ready vvay to euerlasting life : Deliuered in a most familiar dialogue, betweene reason and religion, touching predestination, Gods word and mans free-will, to the vnderstanding of the weakest capacitie, and confirming of the more strong, by Aurthur Dent, London : Printed [at Eliot's Court Press] for Iohn Wright, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Bible without New-gate, 1624 (fifth edition)
• Sermon of Gods prouidence. Very godly and profitable: preached at South-Shoobery in Essex
• Hand-maid of repentance. Or, A short treatise of restitution (As a necessary appendix to his Sermon of Repentance.)

Modern edition

• The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven, ISBN 1-877611-69-7

External link

• South Shoebury Parish Website - Area History