- Want to discover the pivotal history of the KJV's translator?
- Melvyn Bragg turns his zeal for lasting history to the life of William Tyndale
- Perfect for understanding why Tyndale's life and work still resonates today
Writer and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg explores the life and legacy of one of the leading figures of the Protestant Reformation.
William Tyndale's translation of the New, and much of the Old, Testament brought about more profound changes to the English-speaking world over the five centuries after his death in 1536 than the works of any other man in history. Determined to give the English people the Bible in their own tongue, he suffered a martyr's death so that we could live in what he saw as the language of truth.
Considered the most dangerous man in Tudor England, William Tyndale's wide-ranging influence can still be seen today, from international diplomacy, on "world" committees of multiple purposes, new English-based dialects, new versions of the Bible and in the works of some of our greatest writers, from William Shakespeare to Charles Dickens, the Brontes to Tennyson.
So why did his voice become anonymous for so many centuries? And how did this man work to give the people of England the liberty to think rather than the duty to believe? Author and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg explores what drove this great patriot and how he influences is today, regardless of our religious beliefs.
- Part One: The History (What do we know?)
This brief historical introduction to William Tyndale explores the social, political and religious factors that formed the original context of his life and writings, and considers how those factors affected the way he was initially received.
What was his impact on the world at the time and what were the key ideas and values connected with him?
- Part Two: The Legacy (Why does it matter?)
This second part explores the intellectual and cultural 'afterlife' of William Tyndale, and considers the ways in which his impact has lasted and been developed in different contexts by later generations.
Why is he still considered important today? In what ways is his legacy contested or resisted? And what aspects of his legacy are likely to continue to influence the world in the future?
The book has a brief chronology at the front plus a glossary of key terms and a list of further reading at the back.