Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

One of the most well-known and cherished novels of the 19th century, Lew Wallace’s Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ tells the amazing story of a fictional Jewish aristocrat named Judah of the House of Hur. Judah’s misfortunes begin with him being wrongfully charged with trying to assassinate Valerius Gratus, the Roman governor of Judaea. He then becomes a slave, loses his wealth and is separated from his mother and sister, who also get jailed. Judah overcomes seemingly insurmountable obstacles and hopes to exact revenge upon his return to Jerusalem.

Ben-Hur presents a narrative arc of salvation through spiritual devotion. It introduces readers to New Testament characters ranging from Roman tax collectors and charioteers to lepers, fishermen, Pharisees, shepherds, John the Baptist, Pontius Pilate and the Biblical Jesus whose life intersects with Judah's. Upon witnessing the Crucifixion, Judah realizes that Christ’s life stands for compassion, forgiveness, and love.

A timeless work of inspiration, perseverance, and faith, Ben-Hur was a bestseller from the time it was published in the 1880s well until the 1930s. It has been adapted into a play and an Academy Award-winning film. No wonder Wallace’s desire to be remembered as a highly successful military hero has been thwarted. Instead, he is best known as the author of this well-loved tale of human despair and redemption.