Ben Hur, a young Jewish aristocrat, accidently knocks down a roof tile onto a Roman's offical's head. He is condemned to the galleys, but the most fateful moment of his life is yet to come, the day he meets a man named Jesus.

Lew Wallace's Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ, is the story of the life of Jesus told within the exciting tale of Judah of the House of Hur. Judah is a Prince of Jerusalem betrayed by his childhood friend Messala, and sent to spend the rest of his life in servitude on a Roman ship. After three years, Judah miraculously saves the life of a rich Roman tribune, and embarks on a journey of vengeance that ends in redemption for himself and his family. I know that's an incredibly loose synopsis of the novel, but I don't want to give any of the good stuff away - in case there is someone out there who hasn't read the book or seen the movie.

Although Ben-Hur was published in 1880, I found it astonishingly readable. I wasn't constantly stumbling over the language or wondering when the story was going to "pick up." Ben-Hur is full of detail - nearly everything is described in grand scale. This is not a quick read, but the continual movement toward the climax kept me turning pages. The novel itself is charming and incredibly entertaining. Full of the kind of larger-than-life characters you would expect, Ben-Hur is a wonderful historical novel.

After almost 130 years, it remains a powerful and moving novel. It contains some historical information, but is also rich with detail and action packed. With vivid imagery, lavish settings, and affecting characters, Ben-Hur is a must read! ( )

First published in 1880's, the language is a bit flowery. Phrases such as "O Reader" and "Thou wilt not" give the book an archaic feel. The author seems to have borrowed from "The Merchant of Venice" and "Ivanhoe" among other sources. The middle drags somewhat because of too much dialogue. Predictable story to anyone with a passing knowledge of the New Testament. On the positive side, I found Book First to be an excellent account of the events leading up to the arrival of the Magi from the East. If you like Christian literature, this might be a book for you. ( )

It's been years since I read this. It was slow going in some places - my problem with writers of the past. Overall, the book was great, but it was a 'read once' for me. ( )

Better than the movie. ( )