I Samuel is Volume 8 in the Anchor Bible series of new, book-by book translations of the Old and New Testaments and Apocrypha. In his series debut, P. Kyle McCarter, Jr., has written a volume of interest and value to both the scholar and the general reader.McCarter's treatment of I Samuel consists of:Introduction : review of the literary problems and historical circumstances surrounding the writing of the book.Translation : fresh and authoratative, this new translation of I Samuel fully utilizes for the first time ancient manuscript fragments found at Qumran.Textual Notes : for the scholar, technical information on the texts used in the translation.Notes : for the untrained reader, descriptions of people, places, customs, and unusual features of the language.Commentary : an explanatory summary of each passage of translation.Maps : illustrating the book's dramatic events.