Bookworm: News from the literary world

BIBLE BASHEDHE'S a sharp guy, that Adam Nicholson, and this week he's one of the first in a rather crowded market celebrating the 400th anniversary of the publication of a rather famous book.

His When God Spoke English (HarperPress), a far snappier retitling of his much admired Power and Glory, comes ahead of Melvyn Bragg's The Book of Books, due out from Hodder in April, and two editions of the Authorised Version from Collins next month, a paperback and a leather-bound illustrated edition with 92 paintings from artists such as Stanley Spencer and Salvador Dali.

For all the splendours of the language, however, it's salutory to remember that when the King James Bible was published in 1611, its success was by no means certain. As David Taylor reminds us in his just-published The King James Bible: A Short History (Cambridge), it was seen as a plagiarised copy of the market best-seller, the Geneva Bible, which was both cheaper and of better quality. Its text was riddled with errors and denounced by Puritan critics such as translator Hugh Broughton (who was jealous of the ones picked to do the job because he hadn't been). "It is so ill done," he wrote. "Tell his Majesty that I had rather be rent in pieces with wild horses than any such translation by my consent should be urged upon poor churches." Then again, whoever takes notice of the critics anyway?

LINED UP FOR STANZA

THE poetry of the King James Bible is just one of the subjects under discussion at this year's StAnza poetry festival at St Andrews (16-20 March) for which festival director Eleanor Livingstone has assembled poets from as far away as Australia, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Iraq, Iran, China, the USA and Georgia for her first year in charge. The festival's main themes, though, are poetry about history and animals, with a strong emphasis on Gaelic poetry to mark the centenary of Sorley MacLean.

Poetry lovers who can't wait until March can get a wee preview of StAnza's programme on Tuesday at the National Library of Scotland (6pm) that will include music from Gaelic band Lurach and readings from Rab Wilson and Claire Askew.

The event is free but ticketed, with booking either online on www.nls.uk/events/booking or by phoning 0131-623 3918.