With 48 illustrated plates by T.H. Robinson, published by George Newnes in 1903, the book was written by L.T. Meade. Over the 409 pages Meade tells Bible stories in the first person, in plain English. Newnes suggested to Meade she write the book. Starting in 1900, Meade started losing her sight, so she dictated the book to secretaries, as she did all her books published in the early 1900's. Meade died of tuberculosis in 1914, but four books were first published posthumously.