The English Bible and the Seventeenth-Century Revolution

Rating:
Summary: A scholarly book on an interesting subject
Review: Hill does a magnificent job examining the impact of vernacular bibles and increased literacy in 17th century England and how reading is fundamental to change, for better or for worse. Although his footnotes are precise and painstakingly formulated, they tend to interfere with the text's fluidity. The frequent quotes are entertaining; however, Hill would have done better to finish his thoughts in his own words. The interruptions make the reading choppy. There is a wealth of information here, though, and I consider this book both a handy reference for Renaissance study and an insightful roadmap to research of pre-modern English theology. The only obstacle between this book and a fifth star is its cerebral approach, making the assumption that its readers are intimately familiar with the period, the environment and the theology of 17th Century England.

Rating:
Summary: A scholarly book on an interesting subject
Review: Hill does a magnificent job examining the impact of vernacular bibles and increased literacy in 17th century England and how reading is fundamental to change, for better or for worse. Although his footnotes are precise and painstakingly formulated, they tend to interfere with the text's fluidity. The frequent quotes are entertaining; however, Hill would have done better to finish his thoughts in his own words. The interruptions make the reading choppy. There is a wealth of information here, though, and I consider this book both a handy reference for Renaissance study and an insightful roadmap to research of pre-modern English theology. The only obstacle between this book and a fifth star is its cerebral approach, making the assumption that its readers are intimately familiar with the period, the environment and the theology of 17th Century England.