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Arthur Dent (died 1607) was the author of The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven, first published in...

Arthur Dent (died 1607) was the author of The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven, first published in 1601. This was 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. Arthur Dent was a preacher of the word of God at South Shoobery in Essex. 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.