The part played by the Geneva Bible in the composition of the King James Version (1611) has been a vexed issue from the very commissioning of the King James translation in 1604. This essay sheds new light on the issue by focusing in detail on two extant drafts of the King James translation, one that has only recently come to light. Both drafts not only reflect the translators' frequent recourse to the Geneva Bible but also show them taking care explicitly to signal this recourse in a distinctive, even surprising fashion. Detailed consideration of this crucial feature of the drafts illuminates the vital role played by the Geneva Bible in the King James Version's composition process, providing a better understanding of that process as a whole and of its fragmentary remains that survive today.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
