A Textual History of the King James Bible

A detailed 2005 account of the history of the text of the new King James Version Bible.

David Norton (Author)

9780521771009, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 10 January 2005

400 pages, 10 b/w illus.
25.5 x 18.3 x 3.6 cm, 0.97 kg

'… detailed analysis … formidable attention … an essential reference.' Religious Studies Review

David Norton re-edited the King James Bible for Cambridge, and this 2005 book arose from his intensive work on that project. Here he shows how the text of the most important Bible in the English language was made, and how, for better and for worse, it changed in the hands of printers and editors until, in 1769, it became the text we know today. Using evidence as diverse as the manuscript work of the original translators, and the results of extensive computer collation of electronically held texts, Norton has produced a scholarly edition of the King James Bible for the new century that will restore the authority of the 1611 translation. This book describes this fascinating background, explains Norton's editorial principles and provides substantial lists and tables of variant readings. It will be indispensable to scholars of the English Bible, literature, and publishing history.

Part I. The History: 1. Making the text
2. Pre-1611 evidence for the text
3. The first edition
4. The King's printer at work, 1612–17
5. Correcting and corrupting the text, 1629–1760
6. Setting the standard, 1762–9
7. The current text
Part II. The New Edition: 8. Variants and orthography
9. Punctuation and other matters
Appendices 1-9.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG], History of religion [HRAX], Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800 [DSBD]