Ben Hur - Paperback

by Lew Wallace (Author)

Considered "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century", it became a best-selling American novel. Blessed by Pope Leo XIII, the novel was the first work of fiction to be so honored. The story recounts in descriptive detail the adventures of Judah Ben-Hur, a fictional Jewish prince from Jerusalem, who is enslaved by the Romans at the beginning of the 1st century and becomes a charioteer and a Christian. Running in parallel with Judah's narrative is the unfolding story of Jesus, who comes from the same region and is a similar age. The novel reflects themes of betrayal, conviction, and redemption, with a revenge plot that leads to a story of love and compassion. When Judah Ben-Hur's childhood friend, Messala, returns from school indoctrinated by Roman teachings, he cruelly mocks Ben-Hur's Jewish beliefs. Messala works for the new Roman governor, Gratus, who stages an inaugural parade through Judaea. As Ben-Hur watches the scene, he accidentally dislodges a loose tile from his house, which hits the leader. Messala, enraged, ensures that Ben-Hur is harshly sentenced without trial and that his mother and sister are imprisoned. The tale that follows explains how Ben-Hur is relieved of his sentence and returns to a life of prosperity while looking for his family and seeking revenge against Messala. Amid it all, Ben-Hur becomes a follower of the carpenter who he believes will make war against the Romans - although he learns that earthly revenge is not the way of Christ. The story begins with Wallace's account of the biblical wise men meeting and following the star to Christ. Later, he provides an account of Mary and Joseph seeking a birthplace for Jesus. Ben-Hur, his friends and his family live in the time of Jesus' ministry and crucifixion, and they follow the Savior, initially anticipating His creation of an earthly kingdom to overthrow Rome. In Wallace's account, Ben-Hur witnesses and tells others about Jesus' miracles, including how He heals Ben-Hur's mother and sister of leprosy. Ben-Hur is the man who offers the wine-vinegar to Christ on the Cross. And in doing so, places himself in the history of great christian literary fiction.

Author Biography

Lewis "Lew" Wallace was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, governor of the New Mexico Territory, politician, diplomat, and author from Indiana. Among his novels and biographies, Wallace is best known for his historical adventure story, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, a bestselling novel that has been called "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century." Wallace's military career included service in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. He was appointed Indiana's adjutant general and commanded the 11th Indiana Infantry Regiment. Wallace, who attained the rank of major general, participated in the Battle of Fort Donelson, the Battle of Shiloh, and the Battle of Monocacy. He also served on the military commission for the trials of the Lincoln assassination conspirators, and presided over the military investigation of Henry Wirz, a Confederate commandant of the Andersonville prison camp. Wallace resigned from the U.S. Army in November 1865 and briefly served as a major general in the Mexican army, before returning to the United States. Wallace was appointed governor of the New Mexico Territory (1878-81) and served as U.S. minister to the Ottoman Empire (1881-85). Wallace retired to his home in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he continued to write until his death in 1905.