The King James Bible is an English-language version of the Christian Bible, commissioned for translation and supervised by King James I over 400 years ago. To celebrate the four centuries that have passed since the creation of this influential augment of British culture, the BBC offer you this collection of readings and documentaries, narrated by James Naughtie.

This CD audiobook selection provides you with a range of material so that you can discover first hand this turning point in British history. Without The King James Bible, British dialect would be significantly different to how it is today. Everyday phrases such as ‘give up the ghost’, ‘a law unto himself’ and ‘put words in my mouth’ can all have their origins traced back to this religious text, which came into the world a century short of half a millennium ago.

Examining its enduring impact over its many influential years, as well as its significance over the course of British history to Christians and non-believers alike, this BBC audiobook series, available in CD format and as downloadable audiobooks on MP3, gives a true insight into the consequences of this essential Holy text.

A must for all historians, inquisitive Christians and those interested in the origins of the modern English language.