At the end of his book on the history of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, Prof. Campbell says that the importance of the book does not lie as much ‘on the inception and execution of this particular translation’ but in its long history as a religious text at the centre of our English-speaking culture.
Even for a person like me, without a particular religious affiliation, the KJV is still at the heart of all the images and notions that I have of the force that creates and guides us and it strongly informs my notions of ethics and moral. Literary speaking, its importance is second to none. Only Shakespeare can compete with the word of God 
I’m really lucky to have had the opportunity to attend Prof. Campbell talk last week and reading his book was a real delight.
Campbell, G. (2010) Bible. The Story of the King James Version. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
