Books with title Ben Hur

Ben-Hur is a novel by Lew Wallace published by Harper & Brothers on November 12, 1880, and considered "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century". It became a best-selling American novel, surpassing Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) in sales. The book also inspired other novels with biblical settings and was adapted for the stage and motion picture productions. Ben-Hur remained at the top of the US all-time bestseller list until the publication of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind (1936). The 1959 MGM film adaptation of Ben-Hur was seen by tens of millions and won eleven Academy Awards in 1960, after which the book's sales increased and it surpassed Gone with the Wind. It was blessed by Pope Leo XIII, the first novel ever to receive such praise. The success of the novel and its stage and film adaptations also helped it to become a popular cultural icon that was used to promote numerous commercial products. The story recounts in descriptive detail the adventures of Judah Ben-Hur, a 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, from the same region and around the same age. The novel reflects themes of betrayal, conviction, and redemption, with a revenge plot that leads to a story of love and compassion. Ben-Hur is a story of a fictional hero named Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman who was falsely accused of an attempted assassination and enslaved by the Romans. He becomes a successful charioteer. The story's revenge plot becomes a story of compassion and forgiveness. The novel is divided into eight books, or parts, each with its own subchapters. Book one opens with the story of the three Magi, who arrive in Bethlehem to hear the news of Christ’s birth. Readers meet the fictional character of Judah for the first time in book two, when his childhood friend Messala, also a fictional character, returns to Jerusalem as an ambitious commanding officer of the Roman legions. The teen-aged boys come to realize that they have changed and hold very different views and aspirations. When a loose tile is accidentally dislodged from the roof of Judah's house during a military parade and strikes the Roman governor, knocking him from his horse, Messala falsely accuses Judah of attempted assassination. Although Judah is not guilty and receives no trial, he is sent to the Roman galleys for life; his mother and sister are imprisoned in a Roman jail, where they contract leprosy; and all the family property is confiscated. Judah first encounters Jesus, who offers him a drink of water and encouragement, as Judah is being marched to a galley to be a slave. Their lives continue to intersect as the story unfolds.

Lew Wallace wrote the epic tale of Ben-Hur during a close examination of his own faith. Ben-Hur is not only a historical tale of a privileged Jew stripped of his family and wealth, but a religious medidation about the price and sacrifice of true freedom. Wallace parallels the life of Christ with the life of an aristocratic Jew named Judas Ben-Hur, a man who is also betrayed by one his closest friends. Judas' childhood friend, Messala, is a gentile. As the boys grow, their religious hatred of the Jews eventually compels him to wrongly accuse Judah of conspiring against the Roman governor. Consequently, Judah and his family are imprisoned by the Roman government. Judah is made a slave on a Roman ship. During a battle at sea, he is able to make a daring escape and, being thought dead, makes his way to Rome to train as a warrior and once again becomes a respected and affluent citizen. His ultimate goal is to is to take vengeance on Rome. Teaching people across the world for centuries to travel through the steps necessary to get to what really matters. With the deep lesson that is taught, it’s no wonder why people of all ages still consider this epic poem a masterpiece. Lovingly recreated as an mp3 audio this DVD contains the timeless story of Ben Hur. Now you can enjoy it again and again - MP3 compatible player (or a computer) required to play this DVD Version: Unabridged Language: English Reader: Solo Male Format: MP3 Audio DVD Tracks / Chapters: 81 Chapters Total running time: 22:44:14