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God’s Secretaries : The Making of the King James BibleIntroduction of the ebook: God’s Secretaries : The Making of the King James Bible
Đánh giá : 3.77 /5 (sao)
A network of complex currents flowed across Jacobean England. This was the England of Shakespeare, Jonson, and Bacon; the era of the Gunpowder Plot and the worst outbreak of the plague. Jacobean England was both more godly and less godly than the country had ever been, and the entire culture was drawn taut between these polarities. This was the world that created the King A network of complex currents flowed across Jacobean England. This was the England of Shakespeare, Jonson, and Bacon; the era of the Gunpowder Plot and the worst outbreak of the plague. Jacobean England was both more godly and less godly than the country had ever been, and the entire culture was drawn taut between these polarities. This was the world that created the King James Bible. It is the greatest work of English prose ever written, and it is no coincidence that the translation was made at the moment “Englishness,” specifically the English language itself, had come into its first passionate maturity. The English of Jacobean England has a more encompassing idea of its own scope than any form of the language before or since. It drips with potency and sensitivity. The age, with all its conflicts, explains the book.
This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more. …more
Review ebook God’s Secretaries : The Making of the King James Bible
Adam Nicolson is better known for Sea Room and nature writing but what a marvellous historian he is! His enthusiasm for his subject leaps off the page and is utterly absorbing.
The King James Bible is probably still the most widely known translation, its archaic language lending an authority and romance to the words. I was surprised to learn that the language was archaic even when it was written. King James I & VI, a formidable intellectual, had the task of uniting Scotland, England, Wales, Irela Adam Nicolson is better known for Sea Room and nature writing but what a marvellous historian he is! His enthusiasm for his subject leaps off the page and is utterly absorbing.
The King James Bible is probably still the most widely known translation, its archaic language lending an authority and romance to the words. I was surprised to learn that the language was archaic even when it was written. King James I & VI, a formidable intellectual, had the task of uniting Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland and France under one crown following the death of Queen Elizabeth I. He was a pacifist and wanted to ease the tensions between religions while ensuring that the Church of England became the established church in that country. One way of doing this was to create a translation of the Bible that would be agreeable to all, including the Puritans, although only the most moderate of the latter were to be involved. Working groups of scholars were formed, each tasked with translating a specific section, with the instruction that they were to pay heed to the already excellent translations of Tyndale, Coverdale, and the Geneva Bible, amongst others. Once this work was done, the whole was discussed by a committee comprising of the leaders of each of these working groups. The language used was that of the mid 16th century because it was felt to reflect the necessary ‘majestie’ of the work and its sponsor.
Nicolson has an impressive knowledge of the process and of the men involved. Through their stories and an assessment of King James’ reign, he gives us a portrait of a fascinating period of history and its continuing legacy. The Puritans who fled first to the Netherlands and then to North America were of no more consequence than a minor irritation at the time. They were not being persecuted in the way that history often leads us to believe. In fact, the authorities helped them to leave the country. Their displeasure with the rise of the C of E, which they deemed equivalent to Roman Catholicism, the growing cultural acceptance of wearing a wedding band to denote marriage, the use of priests to mediate between parishioners and God, created a dull and analytical version of Christianity that appealed to few, not many. It is difficult for most of us now to understand the passion with which early 17th century Christians held their beliefs and invested so much into the word of God. Church attendance was compulsory in Jacobean England so even the illiterate were familiar with the Bible. King James’ aim was to create a Bible that everyone could understand and it is interesting that literacy levels in England rose dramatically during this period, meaning that ordinary people could read for themselves without the intervention of learned churchmen.
This is an excellent book which brings alive an exciting period of history, often overlooked because it follows the Elizabethan age and precedes the romantic times of Charles I and II. I am hugely impressed with Adam Nicolson’s depth of knowledge and passion for his subject. An easily awarded 5 stars from me. …more
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