Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880)

This was the first book of historical fiction I ever read. It was also the first Christian fiction I read. I can attribute my fascination to ancient history, particularly Roman, to this great story. I also can't remember if I read the book or saw the movie first - although I've read and watched both multiple times over the years.

Judah Ben-Hur is the son of a wealthy merchant who is also friends with Messala, a Roman soldier/politician in occupied Jerusalem. Messala returns to Jerusalem as it's new tribune and there is a bittersweet reunion between the two. During the parade, a loose roof tile falls from the Hur household, striking the tribune and injuring him. The house of Hur is arrested, the women thrust into a dungeon cell and forgotten, and Judah sold into slavery, chained to an oar on a Roman Naval galley.

Dark dreams of revenge keep Judah alive in what most often is a short brutal existence on a Roman galley. During a naval battle, which the Romans lose, Judah saves the galley's Roman commanding officer, prevents the Roman from committing suicide, and eventually returns him safely to the Roman Navy. In return, this Roman officer frees Judah and adopts him as his son.

Now that Judah has the means to pursue his vengeance, he finds Messala and decides to compete against him in the great chariot race. Judah befriends a sheik, the loving owner of four swift and beautiful Arabian horses. Judah trains them for the race. The chariot race culminates in Judah surviving Messala's deadly tricks and eventually running over Messala with his chariot. But hsi revenge turns frigid as Messala's dying words tell Judah that his mother and sister are still alive but lepers from their long confinement in the dungeons.

Judah finds his mother and sister, who lead him to a great teacher. Jesus was in the background of this story throughout Judah's travails. Jesus even slaked Judah's thirst during his trek across the desert with the rest of the galley slaves. Where Judah searched with revenge in his heart, others would speak of the Rabbi who taught of love, forgiveness and peace.

As Judah moved his family away from the leper colony, they were caught in the storms and earthquakes which occurred during the crucifixion of Jesus. His mother and sister were miraculously healed of their leprosy by the blood of Jesus washed from Golgotha by the rain. Finally, Judah comes to terms with the hollowness and futility of his vengeful hate. He forgives his enemies and receives forgiveness and peace himself.

It's no wonder, to me at least, that this story inspired many attempts to theatrically recreate it on stage, as a silent film and finally as one of the greatest motion pictures ever filmed.

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Rated: B+ ( )

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ tells the fictional story of the first-century Jew Judah Ben-Hur, who as a young man is betrayed by his best friend, Messala. This betrayal changes Ben-Hur forever, as he finds himself rising from a slave aboard a ship to one of the most rich and powerful men in the Roman Empire, to the commander of a volunteer army, and finally to the status of worshiper at the foot of the Cross on Golgotha. Author Lew Wallace paints an interesting picture of how God might have chosen to work in one man for the glory of His kingdom.

There is much commendable in Ben-Hur. Wallace took his Christian faith seriously, and as a result spent much time studying the geography, politics and general way of life of first-century Rome and Jerusalem making his novel as historically accurate as he could. Wallace also did an exceptional job writing about the eyewitness accounts of the Christ. As people far removed from the events of the New Testament, it is easy to nonchalantly affirm that Jesus really did the things contained therein. But imagine the excitement that would emanate from inside of you if you watched a man heal your own family from leprosy, or raise a man from the dead! Lewis captured this sense of excitement and awe that must have been present for those who really saw such events. Moving on, the plot of the book is well-written, with a compelling main story and interconnected subplots, each of which keeping one's interest. Many of the characters were relatable, too; I kept wondering in between reading sessions what was the fate of Ben-Hur's mother and sister.

If I had to present a criticism of this book, it would be as follows: First, while there was at least one plot twist I didn't see coming, for the most part it wasn't too hard to see where the story was going. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but a bit more suspense would have been nice. Second, although I think Wallace presented a portrait of Christ that was "historically accurate" for his day, it's highly unlikely (as in 100%) that Jesus was a feminine-looking, long-haired, blue-eyed white guy. I suppose I can forgive him that, though, as he was writing in the 1890s. My only other complaint was his portrayal of Joseph as someone with the personality of a felled tree. That just came out of nowhere, and it probably hurt the story more than it helped.

All in all, this is a good book to read for both the Christian and non-Christian alike. It is a solid story, it is a fun read, and it's good motivation to re-watch the Charlton Heston film, too! ( )

Fantastic film edition dustjacket in colour. This is not of the first printing but among the half millionth copies.

All I could think about was the chariot race when I picked this up… and I was surprised to find that it appears not even halfway through the book. What on earth else could be in there that I don’t remember from the film. Quite a bit, it turns out.

The story goes roughly like this: Ben Hur is the wealthy son of a Jew of revered standing and lives surrounded by a sister and mother he idolises. All is set for a life of privilege. This is shattered though when a dislodged roof tile nearly kills a Roman leader. He is imprisoned as a galley slave, his mother and sister lost to him. One thing leads to another and he ends up saving the life of a Roman military commander who adopts him as his son.

Oh, I forgot, he has a childhood friend who is now his sworn enemy and a brush with Jesus who offers him a cup of water as he is being led away as a slave from his home in Jerusalem. Anyway, this childhood friend he defeats in the famed chariot race. And while I thought the book ends there, it goes on to recount the discovery of his mother and sister and the restoration of all he has lost as Jesus heals them both from leprosy.

Throughout there are lots of side stories. There are a couple of romantic interests who vie for his heart and represent the two worlds of beauty and power versus beauty in humility and peace. In all it was a pretty engaging read.

It was though, written quite a while ago (1880) and sometimes the prose is a bit flowery for my liking. I found it interesting to have a book weave fiction with the factual life of Christ, particularly the crucifixion and episodes from Jesus’ ministry. And I was enjoying the rivalry between Ben Hur and Marcellus until he was effectively killed off after the chariot race.

I didn’t know that it remained the best-selling US novel, taking over from Uncle Tom’s Cabin and running all the way until the 1936 publication of Gone With The Wind. That’s over half a century! Not only that but in the 1960s it again topped the best-seller list, no doubt aided by the record 11 Oscar award-winning film of 1959. In fact, it holds the record for the largest print edition of any book in one year in US publishing history. That’s some legacy, and it is based pretty much around the story because the prose isn’t going to win many awards.

Certainly an important book in literature then but one for the public, not the literati. ( )