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Review
'Bragg's strengths as a novelist yield an account that is personal and imaginative, full of excitement and energy...I have never read an account of the Bible quite so compelling'. (David Crystal, The New Statesman )
'What gives this book its particular power, beyond Bragg's own reputation as a broadcaster, novelist and one of our foremost public intellectuals, is that he separates the importance of the King James Bible from the role of Christianity itself. Bragg tells the history of the King James with the vigour and pace of a storyteller rather than the dry precision of an academic.' (Independent )
'I am inclined to accept his final word: that the KJB's impact "has been immeasurable and it is not over yet".' (John Cornwell, Financial Times )
'Bragg takes a well known tale and tells it with easy eloquence'. (Scotland on Sunday )
'Vivid and accessible'. (Scotsman )
'As popular history, this is great stuff'. (Scotsman )
Bragg is 'our most trusted intellectual interpreter'. (David Sexton, Evening Standard )
'We are in Melvyn Bragg's debt for presenting us with an echo-chamber of sounds from the world's most long-lasting English book, in an eventful and deeply personal journey through four centuries of history'. (Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years )
'Bragg's tribute is of value because he has an aptitude for storytelling. He is breezily readable where other studies can feel dense and recondite. His turn of phrase is dramatic. Bragg's prose reverberates with scriptural certainty. Mostly this is an affectionate book.' (Henry Hitchings, Observer )
'Naturally Bragg pays eloquent homage to the literary grandeur of the scriptures that shaped his own outlook. But this heartfelt and far-reaching tribute makes its special mark in tracing the links between the KJB and the revolutions in science, politics and society'. (Independent )
'It is difficult to see how this book could be bettered; Bragg's narrative is sweeping, his prose dramatic, his enthusiasm infectious.' (Independent on Sunday )
'What gives this book its particular power, beyond Bragg's own reputation as a broadcaster, novelist and one of our foremost public intellectuals, is that he separates the importance of the King James Bible from the role of Christianity itself. Bragg tells the history of the King James with the vigour and pace of a storyteller rather than the dry precision of an academic.' (Independent )
'I am inclined to accept his final word: that the KJB's impact "has been immeasurable and it is not over yet".' (John Cornwell, Financial Times )
'Bragg takes a well known tale and tells it with easy eloquence'. (Scotland on Sunday )
'Vivid and accessible'. (Scotsman )
'As popular history, this is great stuff'. (Scotsman )
Bragg is 'our most trusted intellectual interpreter'. (David Sexton, Evening Standard )
'We are in Melvyn Bragg's debt for presenting us with an echo-chamber of sounds from the world's most long-lasting English book, in an eventful and deeply personal journey through four centuries of history'. (Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years )
'Bragg's tribute is of value because he has an aptitude for storytelling. He is breezily readable where other studies can feel dense and recondite. His turn of phrase is dramatic. Bragg's prose reverberates with scriptural certainty. Mostly this is an affectionate book.' (Henry Hitchings, Observer )
'Naturally Bragg pays eloquent homage to the literary grandeur of the scriptures that shaped his own outlook. But this heartfelt and far-reaching tribute makes its special mark in tracing the links between the KJB and the revolutions in science, politics and society'. (Independent )
'It is difficult to see how this book could be bettered; Bragg's narrative is sweeping, his prose dramatic, his enthusiasm infectious.' (Independent on Sunday )
Product Description
The King James Bible has often been called the Book of Books both in itself and in what it stands for. Since its publication in 1611 it has been the best selling book in the world, and many believe, had the greatest impact.
The King James Bible has spread the Protestant faith. It has also been the greatest influence on the enrichment of the English language and its literature. It has been the Bible of wars from the British Civil War in the seventeenth century to the American Civil War two centuries later and it has been carried into battle in innumerable conflicts since then. Its influence on social movements - particularly involving women in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries - and politics was profound. It was crucial to the growth of democracy. It was integral to the abolition of slavery and it defined attitudes to modern science, education and sex.
As THE ADVENTURE OF ENGLISH explored the history of our language, so THE BOOK OF BOOKS reveals the extraordinary and still-felt impact of a work created 400 years ago.
The King James Bible has spread the Protestant faith. It has also been the greatest influence on the enrichment of the English language and its literature. It has been the Bible of wars from the British Civil War in the seventeenth century to the American Civil War two centuries later and it has been carried into battle in innumerable conflicts since then. Its influence on social movements - particularly involving women in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries - and politics was profound. It was crucial to the growth of democracy. It was integral to the abolition of slavery and it defined attitudes to modern science, education and sex.
As THE ADVENTURE OF ENGLISH explored the history of our language, so THE BOOK OF BOOKS reveals the extraordinary and still-felt impact of a work created 400 years ago.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In its 400th anniversary year, the King James Bible has enjoyed plenty of attention already. Others have given us the extraordinary story of how it was translated into English, analysed in depth the richness, origins and impact of its vocabulary, and even attempted to put the whole, 4,000-year history of the Good Book itself into context.
The King James Bible, argues Melvyn Bragg in his tribute, is a triumph of translation by committee, and he's not just talking about their turns of phrase. It has often been called the Book of Books both in itself and in what it stands for; and since its publication in 1611 it has been the best selling book in the world, and many believe has had the greatest impact on not only literature in general but in particular the Protestant faith.
Bragg asserts that its influence on social movements - particularly involving women in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries - and politics was profound. It was crucial to the growth of democracy and was integral to the abolition of slavery and it defined attitudes to modern science, education and sex.
For his thesis, Bragg's uses, as one example, Mary Wollstonecraft, who in the late 18th century scandalised polite society with her unconventional living arrangements and radical views, was fired not by the intellectual flames of the Enlightenment, with its belief in the supremacy of reason and rejection of the divine, but by her Christian faith. Moreover, as a lifelong churchgoer and the author of A Vindication of the Rights of Women, she found her inspiration, Bragg suggests, in the King James Bible.
The Book of Books is aimed at the general reader, be he Christian, non-Christian, of some other religion, or none at all. It contains a feast of information and persuasive argument in support of Bragg's claim that it is the most influential book to be published in the past 400 years. Highly recommended.
The King James Bible, argues Melvyn Bragg in his tribute, is a triumph of translation by committee, and he's not just talking about their turns of phrase. It has often been called the Book of Books both in itself and in what it stands for; and since its publication in 1611 it has been the best selling book in the world, and many believe has had the greatest impact on not only literature in general but in particular the Protestant faith.
Bragg asserts that its influence on social movements - particularly involving women in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries - and politics was profound. It was crucial to the growth of democracy and was integral to the abolition of slavery and it defined attitudes to modern science, education and sex.
For his thesis, Bragg's uses, as one example, Mary Wollstonecraft, who in the late 18th century scandalised polite society with her unconventional living arrangements and radical views, was fired not by the intellectual flames of the Enlightenment, with its belief in the supremacy of reason and rejection of the divine, but by her Christian faith. Moreover, as a lifelong churchgoer and the author of A Vindication of the Rights of Women, she found her inspiration, Bragg suggests, in the King James Bible.
The Book of Books is aimed at the general reader, be he Christian, non-Christian, of some other religion, or none at all. It contains a feast of information and persuasive argument in support of Bragg's claim that it is the most influential book to be published in the past 400 years. Highly recommended.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have really enjoyed getting to know this book; I was interested in getting acquainted with it after hearing Melvyn Bragg talk about it in one of his radio programmes.
The book takes you through the background of the original translations and the work of such pioneers as Bede, Wycliffe and most importantly, William Tyndale. The idea of a vernacular bible was incredibly revolutionary at the time because it took the word of God out of the hands of the priesthood and ruling classes and put it in the ears and hands of congregations directly. In 1611, it was produced (largely from Tyndale's words in the first half of the 16th Century) as a way of imposing some kind of religious orthodoxy. However, as Bragg's book attests, it has a seismic effect on the culture, politics, language and social attitudes of generations over the subsequent 400 years in the English speaking world and also in the areas colonised by the English speaking world.
The language of the King James version of the Bible is so ingrained into our culture with so many frequently used idioms and phrases having been taken from this version of the Bible. Bragg has traced this language in many great works of literature created since the Bible. It is not just the language, it is also the subject matter of the works created.
Melvyn Bragg also traces the effect of immersion of the bible in thinking driving the protagonists in both the English and American Civil Wars. He looks at the Enlightenment, feminism, abolition of slavery, philanthropy, socialism, education, capitalism, industrialisation and many other intellectual and historical movements and links them to the production and use of the King James version of the Bible.
I was very interested in his chapter in which he looked at Richard Dawkins' brand of atheism. He expresses admiration for Dawkins' intellect but considers his atheism to be unjustified. He is also highly critical of Dawkins' approach in seeking to discredit belief by choosing the most outlandish proselytisers of faith rather than the more reasonable intelligent approaches by people of faith.
This book is not a cold intellectual exercise but a highly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining journey through history and I recommend it highly.
The book takes you through the background of the original translations and the work of such pioneers as Bede, Wycliffe and most importantly, William Tyndale. The idea of a vernacular bible was incredibly revolutionary at the time because it took the word of God out of the hands of the priesthood and ruling classes and put it in the ears and hands of congregations directly. In 1611, it was produced (largely from Tyndale's words in the first half of the 16th Century) as a way of imposing some kind of religious orthodoxy. However, as Bragg's book attests, it has a seismic effect on the culture, politics, language and social attitudes of generations over the subsequent 400 years in the English speaking world and also in the areas colonised by the English speaking world.
The language of the King James version of the Bible is so ingrained into our culture with so many frequently used idioms and phrases having been taken from this version of the Bible. Bragg has traced this language in many great works of literature created since the Bible. It is not just the language, it is also the subject matter of the works created.
Melvyn Bragg also traces the effect of immersion of the bible in thinking driving the protagonists in both the English and American Civil Wars. He looks at the Enlightenment, feminism, abolition of slavery, philanthropy, socialism, education, capitalism, industrialisation and many other intellectual and historical movements and links them to the production and use of the King James version of the Bible.
I was very interested in his chapter in which he looked at Richard Dawkins' brand of atheism. He expresses admiration for Dawkins' intellect but considers his atheism to be unjustified. He is also highly critical of Dawkins' approach in seeking to discredit belief by choosing the most outlandish proselytisers of faith rather than the more reasonable intelligent approaches by people of faith.
This book is not a cold intellectual exercise but a highly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining journey through history and I recommend it highly.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Any book on a religious theme will always have two polarised 'opinion camps': those unquestionably in favour, and those unquestionably not in favour.
However, this book is a revelation because whilst it concerns itself with the Bible, it also encompasses the origin of why it was published, the opposition to its publications (perversely, by the Religious Establishment, who did not want the 'comman man' (or woman) to be able to read, and form their own opinions, but wanted everyone to accept their dogmatic statements).
A most enjoyable read, not just for its religious contents, but for its socialogical study of medieval England, and Europe.
However, this book is a revelation because whilst it concerns itself with the Bible, it also encompasses the origin of why it was published, the opposition to its publications (perversely, by the Religious Establishment, who did not want the 'comman man' (or woman) to be able to read, and form their own opinions, but wanted everyone to accept their dogmatic statements).
A most enjoyable read, not just for its religious contents, but for its socialogical study of medieval England, and Europe.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Review of Bragg's book on the King James Bible
Lord Melin Bragg's book on the King James Bible has been a real eye opener for me. As a devout Christian I have appreciated his non-christian 'outside' stance to the subject. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Jeff
An interesting overview
The Book of Books is an attempt to evaluate the cultural influence of the King James Bible upon the English speaking world over the past 400 years. Read more
Published 15 days ago by FlyingAspidistra
Good gift
I bought this for a friend who is a churchgoer, but not a great reader of novels. He has told me that he really enjoys picking it up for short spells
Published 28 days ago by WendyS
An entertaining read, but...
This is an excuse for Melvyn Bragg to write about all sorts of things he is interested in between 1500 and the present which have a Christian link, which is quite a lot and, being... Read more
Published 1 month ago by T. Ogden
Well worth reading.
Melvin Bragg at his very best. He takes a subject and researches deep into it from all sides. He may not be a Christian but this has not influenced the depth and consistency of his... Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. J. Leahy
Book purchase
A book is a book is a book.
So it's not one of the most technical or difficult purchases one might make in your life. Read more
So it's not one of the most technical or difficult purchases one might make in your life. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. R. J. Cox
The Impact of The King James Bible, lessened!
Bragg's "History of the King James Bible" is a fascinating, meticulously researched piece of writing. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Horace
Badly edited waffle
Very disappointed with this book and I doubt that I will pick it up again though I am only on chapter one. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Puddle
M Bragg, The Book of Books
A crisply written and lively history of the impact of the 1611 translation into English, which combines unobtrusive scholarship and a keen eye for the relevance of the version to... Read more
Published 4 months ago by robert mc bride
the impact of the bible on the last 400 years
This is a well written and enjoyable look at the impact the King James Bible had on society in the English speaking world, and beyond, over the last 400 years, through making... Read more
Published 4 months ago by markr
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