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Show The Salt Lake Tribune BOOKS Sunday, March 31, 1996 Fox’s Bible Translation a Joy to Eye, Ear THE WEST UNDER COVER Reviews of booksof regional interest by Paul Swenson Nicholas A. Basbanes History records that the first translation of the Old Testament took place in Egypt at the great library of Alexandria during the A Main Street Mystery Berkeley Prime Crime 99 (paperback) Seven hundred years later, a Roman scholar named Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus — a man knowntodayas Saint Jerome — spent two decades preparing a But impulse shoppers, impatiently trying to cull the best de- tective fiction from thousands of titles on the shelves of bookstores “for all the sleep he's lost worry- mersed in the fictional town of Clifton, Colo., it is a pleasure to immediatelyidentify with an old man named Fred Vickery, who has an affinity for the natural beautyof his surroundings, a potentially serious heart condition, a painful caseof arthritis and disdain for people who want to tell him what to do, particularly his doctor. charge that Joan has dishonestly expropriated her work authorities so much, however, that he was burnedatthe stake as a heretic in 1536 Conducts Own Probe: Fred Vickery gets dragged into conducting his own investigation when his stubborn and curmud- geonlyfriend. Sheriff Enos Asay, appears to have bought the suicide theory of Joan Cavanaugh’s death. Vickery’s eventual, reluc- partner in amateur sleuthing is Joan Cavan- augh’s long-lost and seemingly cold and indifferent sister, Kate Talbot, whoturnsuptosettle her financial affairs, plans to skip her Bodyin the Lake:Picking his sister's funeral and wants onlyto way alongthe shoreof Spirit Lake as he has done on his morning get back to her big-city profes- constitutional every day for 20 sionallife as quickly as possible lake While No Placefor Secrets has all the elementsofrecent successful detective fiction — eventual golden hair floating around her. Her arms rocked gently in the suspects, odd-couple amateur detectives whose passionate but years, he sees the bare soles of a pair of feet on the surface of the “Shelay facedown with a netof waveshe created while movingto- ward her, andher skirt, long and black, dragged at her legs and hips. Sheer anc white, her blouse stuck to the skin on her back. Joan Cavanaugh, still in her evening clothes from last night's party.” Wading into the icy water, he seesin the dark, contorted face of the corpse of his neighbor and multiple murders, a laundry list of diverse, hypocritical and venal man” to read. Tyndale’s radical efforts antagonized ecclesiastical Fred Vickery is a fiercely independent, instinctively loving individual. He cares deeply for his daughter Margaret and for his grandchildren, and establishes a tender bond with Joan Cavan- friend something he will never forget. It will force him to stick his nose into an inquest into her death, which appears on the sur- augh’s surviving small daughter, Madison. He regardshis vigorous physical regimen of walking the town that he loves as moreeffectual than the ban his doctor and face to have been suicide, and while its consequences will rack his daughter want to apply to his his body with pain,it will invigorate him with a newlife and energyhe has notfelt since his wife, Phoebe’s, death. bacon-and-egg breakfasts and his appetite for gallons of coffee. (As danger crashes around his head, his away-from-home coffee sup- ply at the Bluebird Cafeis cut off The party from which Joan Cavanaugh strayed or was taken dayas the “Eliot Bible,” the work Though it would provide little comfort to Tyndale, fully 90 per- brought the Puritan minister worldwide acclaim as the “Apostle of the Indians,” The history of books, in short, is intertwined with the history of the Bible, and anytime a new version of the Holy Scriptures appears, whether it be the Old Testament, cent of his translation was re- tained by a group of English scholars and writers who 75 years later collaborated on the Authorized Version ofthe Bible. Literary Committee: Com- the New Testament or both, mil- monly known as the King James Bible, the Authorized Versionis a lions of people are sure to take notice. A new production that has prompted uncommonattention is an ambitious project called the lyrical translation that is regarded in some circles as the only doc- umentable instance in whicha distinctive work of literature was produced by a committee. Here in America, a book that Shocken Bible, VolumeI of which has just been released, and is ti- tled The Five Books of Moses (Shocken Books, 1,024 pp., $50) Especially remarkable is that the new translation has been under- becamea collector's item the day it first cameoff the press in 1661 was a version of the New Testament prepared in the Algonquin Here arethe best-selling books as they appear in next week's issue of Publishers Weekly Hardcover fiction 1, Primary Colors, by Anonymous (Random House Presence ofthe Enemy, by Elizabeth George (Bantam) 3. The Horse Whisperer, by Nicholas Evans (Delaer te Power, by David Baldacci 4. AI rae ‘And ThisToo Shall Pass, by E. Lynn Harris (lea Celestine Prophecy, by James Redfield tine 7. That Camden Semsmer, by Lyre Spencer (Putnam) 11. Gailty as Sin, by Tami Hoag (Bantam) 12, Intensity, by Dean Koontz (Knopt. 18. Star Trek: The Return, by William Shatner (Pocket) 4, In the Beauty of the Lilies, by John Upi (Knopf) Coliection, by Judith Krante {crown | | | Contempt, by Christopher A. Darden with JessWater eganooks by James B, Stewart (Simon & 2 Schuster) 3, Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Veons, by John Grayrin 4. Rush Limbaugh at Idiot and OthObservations by Al Piesken (Delco) 5. The Seven ‘Success, b Deepak Chopra (New Word Library, Amber Allen) 6. The Way of the Wizard, by Deepak Chopra (Harmony). | | 8. Mchaliy’s Puzzle, by Lawrence Sanders vce ‘Montana Sky, by Nora Roberts (Putnam). to First King ‘of Shannara, by Terry Brooks Calan | he When you translate the name Adam,’ which is not a name but a designation, it doesn't meana human being, it's not the word necarily from ‘male.’ So I could use ‘humankind,’ and I was happy aboutthat, becauseit was my own approach — though only because the text permitted it.” An imme- diate result of his work is a melo- dious Biblethat pleases the ear as much as the eye, and demandsto be read aloud expanded on during a recent in terview in his office at Clark Uni- versity in Massachusetts, where heis director of the Jewish Studies program. I sawtheproject as a combina- tion of scholarly and artistic en- deavor. Other translations have as their focus the language into which they are being translated, and they are trying to create a moderntext which is comfortable and flowing and idiomatic, which is always a goal of translation.” Oneresult of seeking “a 20th-cen- turyvoice,” which Fox studiously avoided, is that“you miss someof the ancient dress, some of the roughfeel of the Hebrew, and so I started seeing that it was possible to do it anotherwayas a balance. | Feel of Poetry: Bydividing the text into distinct lines, Fox re- stores the rhythmic feel of poetry “Lused to play the piano and do a little singing — in faet music maybe myoneother obsession — and I workedhard to bring out the oral quality.” But unlike a musician who gets the immediate response from an audience for an evening's work, Fox toiled inter- minably in the basementoffice of his Newton, Mass., home with the idea of pleasing himself, and with getting every word, every phrase every nuance from the Hebrew as precisely true to the original as possible Now48, Fox said he hopes to see Volume II, books Joshua through Kings, in print in about three years, though he is not ap- saw that it was helpful to rethink and rehearthese stories andtexts. So I don’t seeit as aimed at a particular generation, though it certainly comes out of a particular generation.” Fox, whosewife, Cherie KollerFox, is a rabbi in Cambridge, ‘It “There's alot of good scholarship out there, and you want to take full advantageofthat “There's no sense in being rushed. The Bible is forever.” Mass., emphasized that he never intended a politically correct translation “which takes text and bendsit to ideological concerns, 7, Undaunted Courage, by Stephen E Am brose (Simon & Schuster). ‘Could You Do That?!, by Laura Schles: singerPlapercoti rakes 2 Village, byHillary Rodham Clinto(Siuon & Sehutet) Int by Daniel Goleman (Bantam), 1, The Zone, by Barry Sears & Bill Lawren (HarperCollins) 12, Simple Abundance, by Sarah Ban Breath: mach (Warner) 13, 100 Years, 100 Stories, by George Burns (Putnam), 14, in the Garden ofGood and Evil, by John Berendt (Random House) 15, You'll Never Make Love in This Town ‘Again, by Robin, Liza, Linda & Tiffany (Dove Books) BEST SELLERS dangerous digging gets in the way of the official investigation and threatens their lives — its appeal goes deeperthan that. languageby the Rev. John Eliot for use by American Indian converts to Christianity. Known to- The Rakenaker by John Grisham(Det), 2 The Glass Lake, by Maeve Binchy(Dell) 8: The Gove ee ¢ cae Coulter Ger 4.Star Wi Before the Storm,a cha!aD D. Kuve MeDovwell (an tam/Spectr). 5. Sleepers, by Lorenzo Carcater (Ballantine) 6, Sophie's World, by Jostein Gaarder (Berk Nicholas A, Basbanes ary critic living in Ma setts 7. Dead by Sunset, by Ann Rule (Pocket) 8, Silent Treatment, by Michael Palmer (Bantam), 9, Tarnished Gold, by VC. Andrews (Pocket Books) 10, The Weatherman, by Steve Thayer (Sig juick (Bantam). er (Berkley) A, Amma) tavernWY"Fiuabeth Lowe (Avon) 15, Mind Prey, by John Sandford(Berk! Trade paperbacl 1, Snow Falling on Cedars, by Daviu wuterson (Vintage 2. There's Treasure Everywhere, by Bill Wat terson (Andrews & McMeel) Soup the Soul, by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor, eds (Health Communication). 4, We're Right ‘re Wrong, by James Carville (Random House and Simon & Schuster) Effective People, by ley (F Columbine). 7 Dead Man Walking y StrHelen Prejean (Vintage). by another well-meaningfriend.) to her death was,by Clifton, Colo., Rainbow Crafts His partnership with Kate Tal- standards, a showy and preten- bot — hurt, isolated and deprived tious affair thrown by her hus- of emotional connection by events that spill out during the course of band, Brandon Cavanaugh. The guestlist of Cliftonites and out-oftowners in formalwear included town banker Logan Ramsey; Wi- 3216 South State ¢ 466-7400 (open M-FnenSe Setwidaytampm) aan her stay in Colorado — is a classic cooperative probe of not only the dark heart of murder, but the nona Fox, the co-proprietor of Joan Cavanaugh’s gallery and frame shop, The Frame Up; Brandon's cousin Tony Cavanaugh; 140% Off mysterious personal depth and | secret courage that ordinary men and womenfindin the face of the extreme. and several businessmen involved in some shadowy big deal that failed to be consummated with the disappearance of Brandon Paul Swenson is a free-lance writer in Salt Lake City. Fresh. delicious, halibut is here... hours freshfrom the cold, deep Pacific Now being served daily at lunch anddinner Or. visit the Market Air Duct een *50°° Discount —— witty, character-driven prose and you'll be hooked. As we are im- be suitable for the “common Age obsessive Summer Dey were occasions, the Hebrew Bible through the Street Broiler Fresh FishMarket for scrump ious fresh halibut Lo cook at home. sores)</0/08h 1140% 0%,Of 86Of Easter : Merchandise! _ (Expires 4/6/96) -r= cies4/8/00) “sore Pode L 260 South 1300 Kast 83-B8OK, 30% Off 40% ¢Off | 30% Off d Any Single y | legular Price or Yardage | Ful ies Item! Reduce mold, mildew, dust and other air contaminants. Any Single Regular Priced Item! (Expires 4/6/88) an € (Expires mes#/5/88) Os 4/6/96) Colson 008th through Sat. Apr. 6, 1996. Excludes some itera One coupon sheet per customer, per week. Coupons must accompany purchase! © Allergy relief @ Improve air quality © Eliminate musty odors COIT=s Any Single Regular Priced Item! | fii distant mountains. But reada pageof Lewis’lively, whose business relationship with Joan has been severed by Dey’s liam Tyndale, a theologian who envisioned Scripture that would | Ul] buildings huddle beneath a rim of from the Hebrew in 1526 by Wil- > the cover illustration, three undistinctive frame and clapboard Cavanaugh’s wife. Conspicuous byher absenceis painter and New aed = ing about me.” The novelis one in Everett Fox: “I used to play the piano anddoalittle singing — in fact music may be my one other obsession — and | worked hard to bring out the oral quality.” But there added, wherethetext permitted himto makecertain adjustments draw the reader into the world of power or its language,” Fox writes in a preface, a mandate he used in the first successful operation of a printing press in 1450. The first English version of the Bible to be printed was translated byLPL ed cates her whodunit to her father a series of “Main Street Mysteries.” In the small-town setting of “The purposeof this bookis to camethe official Latin Bible of the Roman Catholic Church, and was the text Johan Gutenberg No Place for Secrets won't nec- sexismandso on. WhatI'm trying honors extended to Everett Fox, the translator, was an invitation to read segments of the Bible at the White Housefor the first family just before Christmas. ments commonly referred to as the Vulgate. His rendering be- essarily be snapped up under such a system. Sherry Lewis is the author's prosaic name. She dedi- to dois to reproducethetext the way that I hearit. It’s an ancient text. That's whatit is. literary imagination.” Among the version of the Old and New Testa- and supermarkets, may fall back on that old, unreliable quick fix — judging a book byits cover. work. Thefirst volume includes the five canonical books of Gene sis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers New York Times Book Review. Edward Hirch described theeffort as ‘a binding religious text, a historical document of the first importance and a work of great the Septuagint ted with an embarrassment of riches and rot. and it’s not like some recent efforts that try to address issues of and Deuteronomy In a front-page reviewfor The third century B.C. when 72scholars transformed someancient Hebrew texts into Greek. Their combined efforts are still known as Everybody wants to be a mystery writer. The genreis nowglut- taken by one person, andthat it was accomplished over a 27-year period ofintense, often obse IAL TO THE TRIBUNE a No Place for Secrets By Sherry Lows My F5 eereccne Caen cee eeaa dust particles in your home. 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