I recently wrote to Cambridge University Press, enquiring whether there were, as I’d heard from some little bird, plans to issue a new edition of the New Cambridge Paragraph Bible incorporating the corrections included in the recent paperback edition, but in similar but smaller formats to the hardback and leatherbound editions of the original printing. In response, I received a note from Christopher Wright, Publishing Manager for Bibles at Cambridge University Press:
We do intend to publish the New Cambridge Paragraph Bible in smaller formats using the updated text, and have said as much informally to various people, but we have not yet committed to a definite schedule or publication date. Given the current state of our publishing commitments, and the completion of the editorial process, I do now see an opportunity arising next year so I would hope to bring these out during the second half or towards the end of 2008.
In granting permission for me to quote his response, he wanted to make explicit the extremely tentative nature of this schedule. It is not established, and subject to change. Still, it will be good news for those fans of the New Cambridge Paragraph Bible that smaller, corrected editions are planned.
Thanks for the update – that’s good news indeed!
Take a look also at J. Mark Bertrand’s post on this subject, at his very cool blog Bible Design and Binding.
See his excellent review of the New Cambridge Paragraph Bible, too.
I’m now officially hooked on your blog. I’ve added you to my blogroll. Again, nice job.
Thanks for that and your other comment, Don. I very much appreciate the compliments!
I’m not impartial, mind you, but I do think it’s quite a nice blog myself. If I weren’t writing it, I’d read it anyway! And much of the best of it lies in the comments from others, so thanks for contributing.
I just ordered the current hardback edition, so I’m wondering about the typos they plan to correct in the next edition–how many are there and what kind?
Moti, I don’t know. There was no indication of what they were in the paperback edition, such as a list of errata/corrigenda. All I know is that the new hardback and leather editions will incorporate them, and that those will be in a smaller format than the first editions.
Thank you for taking the time to answer, Kevin. I should get it in the next few days. It’s a more expensive purchase than I usually make, but I’ve looked for it in used bookstores for about a year without success and decided to take the leap.
This might be a silly thing to ask, but do we know if the smaller format he mentioned is still in the works? The end of 08 is long past.
Hi Nick,
Yes, I should’ve posted an update here.
I contacted them again just a few months ago. It seems that they’re planning new editions for 2011, for the 400th anniversary. That’s a bit more wait, but not too much longer.
There were corrections to the text in the original hardcover and leather editions. These were included in the paperback edition, which is actually a high-quality paperback. There have likely been others since then. It’ll be very nice to have a typically beautiful high quality leatherbound Cambridge Bible of this text, complete with all the apocrypha. It’s something to look forward to for next year!
Thanks for the quick update! Good to know that it’s on its way.