I first came across this book at a book shop a number of years ago now – but no more than 5 years ago I would say. It caught my attention immediately, as the subject matter of the King James Version of the Bible is one that I am most passionate about, being a Christian who loves the King James Version, despite a short fling with the New King James Version and an enforced effort with the New International Version some years ago. I have always come back to the King James Version as my preferred choice. So seeing this book when I did, I thought ‘I must read that.’

I immediately started to read it after I purchased it but never finished it. I suppose I got about halfway through it and never took it back up again until recently. I expect the consequence of trying to read a multitude of books at the same time as the ultimate reason for my failure to complete the book back then, as well as perhaps the desire to read others that came across my desk. So when I saw it again recently, while doing some much needed cleaning and organising of my personal library, I thought ‘I must read that’ and took it up again.

The book left me disappointed, but not surprised. It was written by someone well and truly outside of my Particular Baptist and Reformed understanding, so I wasn’t surprised that it didn’t live up to what I had thought the book might be like – or perhaps hoped it would be like. So I was disappointed with its lack of understanding concerning the Christian faith, especially viewed from my Particular Baptist and Reformed perspective. It is certainly a very interesting read in providing some great background to the period of the translation, yet it really is very light on the actual translation of the Bible into what is now known as the King James Version or Authorised Version of the Bible. It is not light on dishing out plenty of criticism on those that did the work and plenty of that is undoubtedly warranted, yet there is I believe, a poor understanding of these men, particularly those branded as ‘Puritans’ – as there was back in their own day.

I think I would give it a 2 out of 5 as a rating.

Buy this book at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0007108931/