What is Manifold Greatness?

The title Manifold Greatness, referring to the multifaceted or "manifold" influence of this landmark book, is taken from the 1611 Bible’s dedication to King James, which begins, "Great and manifold were the blessings" when God made James the king of England.

Printed in 1611, the King James Bible became the most influential English translation of the Bible and one of the most widely read books in the world. This exhibit takes a look at the dramatic history of the King James Bible, what we know about the scholars who translated it, and how it has continued to influence literature, culture, and society for over 400 years – from the words of Handel's Messiah to Martin Luther King’s "I have a dream" speech.

The exhibit will be open during regular library hours May 29 - July 12 and will feature a variety of programs.

Manifold Greatness: The Creation and Afterlife of the King James Bible, a traveling exhibition for libraries, was organized by the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. It is based on an exhibition of the same name developed by the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, with assistance from the Harry Ransom Center of the University of Texas, to mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible.

The traveling exhibition was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.