The King James Bible after Four Hundred Years: Literary, Linguistic, and Cultural Influences

by Hannibal Hamlin (Editor), Norman W. Jones (Editor)

2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the King James version of the Bible. No other book has been as vital to the development of English writing or indeed to the English language itself. This major collection of essays is the most complete one-volume exploration of the King James Bible and its influence to date. The chapters are written by leading scholars from a range of disciplines, who examine the creation of the King James Bible as a work of translation and as a linguistic and literary accomplishment. They consider how it differed from the Bible versions which preceded it, and assess its broad cultural impact and precise literary influence over the centuries of writing which followed, in English and American literature, until today. The story will fascinate readers who approach the King James Bible from the perspectives of literary, linguistic, religious or cultural history.

Genres: History

378 pages, Hardcover

First published December 2, 2010

Reviews

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was far more interesting than I expected it to be. While I do not belong to the King James only group of Bible readers, I was raised with the king James Bible, especially during my first decade of life. This book is a collection of essays designed to celebrate and to critique the language used in the king James Bible. Essays are written from many perspectives by authors from various backgrounds.It is rich with history and admiration for the language of the king James Bible, and it also discusses how the language of the king James Bible has influenced our day-to-day conversation as well as fine literature and art. I found the essays on John Bunyan, Virginia Woolf, and The Family Expositor to be particularly interesting.

[Ariadna73 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The King James Bible after 400 years - Hannibal Hamlin (ed.)

I did not read this book completely. I was only looking for the references to another book I am reading with great attention" Absalom, Absalom!. This book has very interesting facts to better understand Faulkner's motivations behind the title of his little masterpiece.

This is the cover of the book I read:

This is the information on the edition, and the table of contents:

Here you can see a photo of the original King James Bible (so amazing!)

This is an excerpt of the New Testament, that appears to be verse, but could very well be just beautiful prose:

Here is a very interesting chart on the English Bible and New Testament editions published per year between 1557 and 1611:

Some paintings about the life of Jesus and his mother:

The coat of the book with so much praise about it:

More on the book coat:

And finally, what I came to look for: explanations on Absalom, Absalom and Beloved; two books that reflect a deep understanding of the bible. As a bonus, I found a wonderful summary of the argument. It is fantastic how two pages can make the reading of an otherwise complicated book an easier and much more enjoyable experience:

I hope you liked this entry. If you feel like viewing more of the books I read, you are welcome to visit my blog: http://lunairereadings.blogspot.com

[Julie Bozza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very timely, as this little atheist recently cited the King James Bible as a literary influence... A present from my Mum, an honest believer.

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A really thorough look at the KJB via its language, its own history, and its influence on a wide variety of authors over the centuries since. Very interesting and comprehensive - though for now I am mostly interested in the language, and so only some of this was a timely read for me.

Certainly recommended, though, if you are interested in a book that has had such a large cultural influence.

[Terese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uneven. While half the essays are tremendously interesting the other half is frigthfully boring and while erudite sometimes hard to find a point of interest in. Probably a book best suited to be re-read in order to find the true gems of it, but for now I'll let it rest at the back of my mind.