Bible

Marking the 400th anniversary of the King James Version, this accessible yet authoritative history, explains why and how the Authorised Version came into being
Brings to life the controversies surrounding later revisions, helping the reader to understand why and when new editions were issued
Investigates the varied reception of the King James Version across the world, particularly looking at its enduring popularity in America
Lavishly illustrated with reproductions from early editions of the King James Bible and portraits of key players in its history
Appendices contain short biographies of the translators and a guide to the 74 page preliminaries of the 1611 edition

This is a history of the King James Version of the Bible (known in Britain as the Authorised Version) over the four hundred years from its remote beginnings to the present day.

Gordon Campbell, expert in Renaissance literatures, tells the fascinating and complex story of how this translation came to be commissioned, of who the translators were, and of how the translation was accomplished. The story does not end with the printing of that first edition, but introduces the subsequent generations who edited and interacted with the text. The present text of the King James Version differs in thousands of small details from the original edition. Campbell traces the textual history from 1611 to the establishment of the modern text by Oxford University Press in 1769.

Attitudes to the King James Version have shifted through time and territory, ranging from adulation to deprecation and attracting the attention of a wide variety of adherents. It is more widely read in America today than in any other country, and its particular history in there is given due attention.

Generously illustrated with reproductions taken from early editions, this volume helps to explain the enduring popularity of the King James Version throughout the world today.