Ben-Hur
A Tale of the Christ
Summary
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is an epic work of historical fiction. Lew Wallace's 1880 novel follows a Jewish prince who is enslaved by the Romans and becomes a charioteer while interweaving the story of Jesus Christ. Marked by its blend of adventure, romance, and religious themes, Ben-Hur became a bestseller and is widely considered one of the most influential Christian-themed novels ever written.
Plot
Set at the start of the 1st century AD, Ben-Hur centers on Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jewish prince. When his childhood friend Messala returns home to Jerusalem as a Roman officer, the two become bitter enemies. After an accident where a roof tile falls on the Roman governor, Messala falsely accuses Judah of attempted assassination. As a result, Judah is condemned to the galleys as a slave while his mother and sister are imprisoned.
After years as a galley slave, Judah saves the life of a Roman commander who adopts him. Judah becomes a skilled charioteer and returns to Judea seeking revenge on Messala. He defeats Messala in a dramatic chariot race, leaving Messala crippled. Judah then searches for his mother and sister, who have contracted leprosy while imprisoned. Along the way, he encounters the famed Jesus of Nazareth and is deeply moved by his teachings.
As Jesus is sentenced to crucifixion, Judah realizes Christ's message is one of love and forgiveness rather than vengeance. He witnesses the Crucifixion and offers Jesus wine vinegar on the cross. After Christ's death, Judah becomes a Christian convert. Years later, he marries Esther and uses his wealth to support the growing Christian community in Rome, funding the construction of underground catacombs for Christian worship.
Themes
• Revenge versus forgiveness
• Faith and religious awakening
• Loyalty and betrayal
• Family bonds and separation
• Social injustice and redemption
• Clash of cultures between Romans and Jews
• Personal transformation and character growth
Setting
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is set in the ancient Roman world during the lifetime of Jesus Christ, primarily in the 1st century AD. The story spans several locations across the Roman Empire, including Jerusalem, Rome, and Antioch. Much of the action takes place in Judea, a Roman province that encompasses modern-day Israel and Palestine. Key scenes unfold in Jerusalem, the holy city central to Judaism and early Christianity.
The novel also ventures to Rome, the seat of imperial power, where the protagonist Judah Ben-Hur experiences both enslavement and later adoption into a wealthy Roman family. The Syrian city of Antioch serves as another important setting, hosting the famous chariot race that forms a climactic moment in the story.
Characters
• Judah Ben-Hur: The protagonist, a Jewish prince who is falsely accused of an assassination attempt and enslaved by the Romans. Consumed by vengeance, he later becomes a charioteer and follower of Jesus Christ.
• Messala: Judah's childhood friend who becomes a Roman tribune, betrays him, and emerges as a fierce rival.
• Esther: The daughter of Simonides who becomes Judah's wife.
• Simonides: A loyal Jewish servant to Judah's father who becomes a wealthy merchant.
• Miriam: Judah's mother, who is imprisoned when her son is condemned to slavery.
• Tirzah: Judah's younger sister, who is imprisoned along with her mother.
• Quintus Arrius: The Roman commander who saves Judah from galley slavery and adopts him as his son.
• Balthasar: One of the three wise men who seeks the Christ.
• Iras: Balthasar's beautiful daughter who betrays Judah.
• Sheik Ilderim: An Arab who allows Judah to race his chariot team.
• Amrah: An Egyptian servant loyal to the Hur family.
• Malluch: Servant of Simonides who befriends Judah.
• Jesus Christ: The Christian Messiah, whose life intersects with Judah's story.
Quick facts
• Published in 1880, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ surpassed Uncle Tom's Cabin as the bestselling American novel of the 19th century.
• Ben-Hur is a story of vengeance and forgiveness, featuring Christian-based themes of forgiveness and compassion for strangers.
\
• Lew Wallace wrote the novel from the perspective of Judah Ben-Hur, understanding that many readers would reject a work of fiction with Jesus Christ as its hero.
\
• Wallace meticulously researched the geography, culture, and daily life in Judea during the 1st century AD to create an authentic backdrop for his novel.
• Ben-Hur popularized the genre of historical fiction and inspired other novels with biblical settings.
• Ben-Hur has inspired numerous stage and screen adaptations, most notably the 1959 film starring Charlton Heston, which won a record 11 Academy Awards.
About the author
Lewis Wallace
Lewis “Lew” Wallace was an American lawyer, Union general in the Civil War, politician, diplomat, and author. He is best known for his epic work of historical fiction Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, which became the bestselling novel of the 19th century and has been hailed as one of the most influential Christian books ever published.
Born in Indiana in 1827, Wallace had a varied career that included service as a second lieutenant in the Mexican-American War, admission to the Indiana bar, and election to the state senate before the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. His Civil War service was notable but controversial. He attained the rank of major general and participated in several key battles, including Fort Donelson and Shiloh. However, his actions at Shiloh, where his division arrived late on the first day of battle, damaged his military reputation and haunted him for years afterward. Wallace later redeemed himself by helping defend Cincinnati and Washington, DC, from Confederate attacks.
After the war, Wallace served as governor of New Mexico Territory from 1878 to 1881 and as US Minister to the Ottoman Empire from 1881 to 1885. It was during his time as territorial governor that Wallace completed his most famous work, Ben-Hur, published in 1880. The novel became a bestseller and established Wallace's fame as an author, though he considered his later work The Prince of India to be his best. Wallace died in 1905 at his home in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He is honored by a marble statue in the US Capitol's National Statuary Hall, where he is the only novelist represented.