Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is a historical novel by Lew Wallace. It follows Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman in Roman-occupied Judea, through betrayal, slavery, and a chariot race, while a parallel thread recounts the life of Jesus. It offers adventure, moral conflict, and a portrait of faith and forgiveness.
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Cover of the original edition (Project Gutenberg, public domain).
Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
Ben-Hur A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace
to THE WIFE OF MY YOUTH who still abides with me Contents BOOK FIRST I. Into the Desert II. Meeting of the Wise Men III. The Athenian Speaks—Faith IV. Speech of the Hindoo—Love V. The Egyptian’s Story—Good Works VI. The Joppa Gate VII. Typical Characters at the Joppa Gate VIII. Joseph and Mary Going to Bethlehem IX. The Cave at Bethlehem X. The Light in the Sky XI. Christ is Born XII. The Wise Men Arrive at Jerusalem XIII. The Witnesses before Herod XIV. The Wise Men Find the Child
BOOK SECOND I. Jerusalem under the Romans II. Ben-Hur and Messala III. A Judean Home IV. The Strange Things Ben-Hur Wants to Know V. Rome and Israel—A Comparison VI. The Accident to Gratus VII. A Galley Slave BOOK THIRD I. Quintus Arrius Goes to Sea II. At the Oar III. Arrius and Ben-Hur on Deck IV. “No. 60” V. The Sea Fight VI. Arrius Adopts Ben-Hur BOOK FOURTH I. Ben-Hur Returns East II. On the Orontes III. The Demand on Simonides IV. Simonides and Esther V. The Grove of Daphne VI. The Mulberries of Daphne VII. The Stadium in the Grove VIII. The Fountain of Castalia IX. The Chariot Race Discussed X. Ben-Hur Hears of Christ XI. The Wise Servant and his Daughter XII. A Roman Orgie XIII. A Driver for Ilderim’s Arabs
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