On the whole Tory Historian would prefer not to have the picture of London's Mayor at the top of this website. The organization, the King James Bible Trust, is entirely praiseworthy and TH hopes that many readers will look at the site, bookmark it and note whatever events it organizes to promote a wider knowledge of the book that changed the Anglosphere's understanding of the world and religion. Can one really think English-language literature or politics without the King James Bible or, as it is often known, the Authorized Version?
It is a little sad to read in the little pamphlet that was handed out at the launch that
Each month on average 450,000 people around the world use Google to search for "King+James+Bible", yet only 40,000 of those searches (fewer than 10%) originate in the UK.TH suspects with a deep sigh that it is not because everything about the subject is known to everybody in this country.
One publication to mark the forthcoming anniversary is by the eminent historian Gordon Campbell. It is entitled Bible: The Story of the King James Version 1611 - 2011 (reviewed in the Guardian here), a highly entertaining as well as scholarly volume. Among other things, Professor Campbell writes about various editions, which varied from each other until a master text was published in 1769. Before and after that event there were editorial and printers' corrections as well as some highly entertaining misprints.
Tory Historian was particularly taken by this accout:
In the first edition of the KJV designed for private study (1612), as opposed to reading aloud in church, Psalm 119:161 read "Printers have persecuted me without cause": "printers" was a misprint for "princes".Maybe so. But anybody in the writing and publishing business would have agreed with the unfortunate psalmist.
The King James Bible is usually described as the only example of a committee (of scholars in this case) producing something very fine. Its publication was, as it happens, also a political event of great importance. So, perhaps, it is appropriate that there should be the picture of a living politician on the website.
Thanks! Two big surprises tied into the 400th anniversary of the 1611 King James Version Bible:
1. Two scholars and an international team of researchers have compiled the first worldwide census of extant copies of the original first printing of the 1611 King James Version (sometimes referred to as the "He" Bible). For decades, authorities from the British Museum, et al., have estimated that “around 50 copies” of that first printing still exist. The real number is quite different.
2. As well, one of the two scholars has discovered the exact price at which the first KJV Bibles were sold back in 1611. That price has eluded experts for generations. The finding was quite a surprise.
For more information, you're invited to contact Donald L. Brake, Sr., PhD, at dbrake1611@q.com or his associate David Sanford at drsanford@earthlink.net
Hello,
We thought you might like to know about our latest drama documentary made by the fantastic director, BAFTA and Emmy award-winning director, Norman Stone (Shadowlands, Florence Nightingale).
Made in preparation for the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, KJB - The Book that Changed the World features John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones) who leads us through the intrigue, treachery and gun powder plot, recounting the rise to the throne of King James VI / I and his beloved Bible translation.
You may wish to view our website where you also see a trailer for the film: www.kjbthefilm.com
It is already out on DVD on Amazon in the UK (and it'll be released in the States in April) and we'd love it if you could take a look and let us know what you think - even review it on your Blog, perhaps. Could we please send you a preview DVD of the film?
Very best wishes
Kate Efomi
Hello,
We thought you might like to know about our latest drama documentary made by the fantastic director, BAFTA and Emmy award-winning director, Norman Stone (Shadowlands, Florence Nightingale).
Made in preparation for the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, KJB - The Book that Changed the World features John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones) who leads us through the intrigue, treachery and gun powder plot, recounting the rise to the throne of King James VI / I and his beloved Bible translation.
You may wish to view our website where you also see a trailer for the film: www.kjbthefilm.com
It is already out on DVD on Amazon in the UK (and it'll be released in the States in April) and we'd love it if you could take a look and let us know what you think - even review it on your Blog, perhaps. Could we please send you a preview DVD of the film?
Very best wishes
Kate Efomi