Derek Wilson is a popular historian and his book The People's Bible on "the remarkable history of the King James version" (publisher Lion) is an essentially historical approach with some comments about Bible translation more generally.
He begins as far back as 1215 and medieval antipathy to translating the Scriptures and making them available. Further chapters take us from Wycliffe to Tyndale then on to Coverdale and the other translations immediately before the AV. Chapters 4 and 5 deal with the Hampton Court Conference and the translating of the AV with some further comment on its publication and reception in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 takes us as far as the Restoration before coming to the impact on America and the British Empire and its growing popularity in general. Chapter 9 briefly surveys modern translations from the RV on. A final chapter attempts some sort of analysis, while keeping in mind the changing ecclesiastical scene, touching on the literary merits of the work and wisely pointing out that compisons with Shakespeare are out of court, being of so different a nature.
Wilson is not afraid to criticise the AV but his conclusion is that the book has had an extraordinary and unique history. "Its influence" he says "has been and continues to be incalculable. It has helped to shape the western mind; has influenced what we think and how we think. It has changed the world." These lavish statements are followed by a warning against idolatry. he is probably right to see the story as part fo a larger narrative - tht of the quest for religious certainty.
In his preface he remarks on how ironic it is "that a Bible commissioned by a cheerfully bisexual monarch" should be the standard translation for "Christian fundamentalists in the world's most powerful republic". As a historian, however, he is well aware that "history is prone to playing strange tricks".
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