The Jerusalem Bible text is a version in modern English which keeps as close as possible to the literal meaning of the ancient texts from which it has been translated. Very brief introductions are provided to indicate the historical setting of each book, and a small number of short footnotes to clarify only the literal meaning of the text without attempting interpretation. The Jerusalem Bible first appeared in 1966 and was the work of a team of scholars (including J. R. R. Tolkien) under the direction of Father Alexander Jones, influenced by La Bible de Jerusalem - a French translation of the Bible produced by the French Biblical School in Jerusalem. It was hailed as a masterpiece of textual accuracy and modern style. This compact Popular Edition, first published in 1968, is designed for the general reader. It has short footnotes explaining key details and is an excellent resource for everyone.