Table of Contents

1. Creators of English; 2. From the Great Bible to the Rheims-Douai Bible: arguments about language; 3. The King James Bible; 4. Literary implications of Bible presentation; 5. The struggle for acceptance; 6. The Psalter in verse and poetry; 7. The eloquentest book in the world'; 8. Writers and the Bible 1: Milton and Bunyan; 9. The early eighteenth century and the KJB; 10. Mid-century; 11. The critical rise of the KJB; 12. Writers and the Bible 2: the Romantics; 13. Literary discussion to mid-victorian times; 14. The revised version; 15. 'The Bible as literature'; 16. The later reputation of the KJB; 17. The New English Bible.

Promotional Information

This book, first published in 2000, explores 500 years of religious and literary ideas contained in the King James Bible.

Reviews

'A most instructive and fascinating work.' Expository Times 'David Norton's long book fills a large gap very well: so well, in fact, being comprehensive and especially well written, that one hears of it being recommended to classes, by default, as a history of translations. His story is remarkable. It is compelling reading as a study of literary positions in successive centuries.' Reformation 'The clarity and drive of Norton's own writing happily matches the fulness of his material: though too well-mannered to raise his voice, he successfully challenges the now-fashionable dismissal of the English Bible from history.' Oxford Academic Journals 'The clarity and drive of Morton's writing happily matches the fulness of his material ... he successfully challenges the now-fashionable dismissal of the English bible from history.' The Journal of Theological Studies