The Relevation of St John the Divine by Heathcote Williams

The Relevation of St John the Divine by Heathcote Williams

Composed in a period of early Christian persecution and traditionally attributed to John the Divine, Revelation stands as one of the most symbolically rich and debated texts in the biblical canon. Its visions-of heavenly worship, cosmic conflict, judgment, and renewal-have shaped theological reflection, sacred art, and literary imagination for centuries.

Drawn from the 1611 King James translation, this edition preserves a text that has profoundly influenced the development of English prose. Majestic in cadence and disciplined in structure, the King James Version remains one of the central works of the English language. In Revelation, its elevated style lends weight and clarity to imagery that is at once apocalyptic, poetic, and devotional.

Presented here as a standalone volume, this edition invites careful reading and reflection on a work that continues to occupy a singular place in both Christian theology and the broader history of Western thought.

Heathcote Williams is a poet, playwright, author, and actor. His first book, The Speakers, was published in 1964. A portrait of the orators at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, it was greeted with critical acclaim. He went on to write his epic poems Whale Nation, Autogedden, Sacred Elephant, and Falling for a Dolphin, which were all published by Jonathan Cape and released as audiobooks, and have won numerous awards. Heathcote is also an award-winning playwright. His first full length play, AC/DC, won a hat trick of prestigious awards: the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Play, the George Devine Award, and the John Whiting Award. His later play, The Local Stigmatic, first played at the Royal Court in 1966 and was made into a film by Al Pacino. In 2011, Roy Hutchins launched a show of Heathcote's newer poems entitled Zanzibar Cats which has had a UK Tour and a run in Edinburgh where it won the prestigious Herald Archangel Award. Heathcote lives in Oxford, England with his wife, Diana Senior.