{"product_id":"ben-hur-9780451532091","title":"Ben-Hur","description":"\u003ch2\u003eBen-Hur: A Timeless Epic of Betrayal and Redemption\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBen-Hur\u003c\/i\u003e stands as one of the most influential works of historical fiction ever written. This remarkable saga follows a Jewish prince falsely accused of attempting to murder a Roman official and condemned to death as a galley slave. Set against the backdrop of Imperial Rome during the time of Christ, Lew Wallace's masterpiece recreates an entire ancient world with stunning authenticity and dramatic power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Story\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe novel chronicles the life of Judah Ben-Hur, whose journey from noble prince to galley slave to champion charioteer forms one of literature's most gripping narratives. Epic in scope, the story recreates Imperial Rome through unforgettable sequences: a thrilling sea battle that tests human endurance, the legendary chariot race that has captivated readers for generations, and the profound spiritual journey culminating in the agony of Crucifixion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author: Lewis Wallace\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLewis Wallace (1827-1905) lived a life as extraordinary as his fiction. Born in Brookville, Indiana, Wallace served as a major general in the American Civil War, becoming the youngest man to hold that rank. He participated in the military commission that tried those involved in President Lincoln's assassination and later served as territorial governor of New Mexico from 1878-1881. During his tenure in New Mexico, Wallace wrote \u003ci\u003eBen-Hur\u003c\/i\u003e (1880), which became a publishing phenomenon. He also served as minister to Turkey and authored numerous other works before his death in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1905.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eLiterary Significance and Cultural Impact\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1880, \u003ci\u003eBen-Hur\u003c\/i\u003e became one of the best-selling American novels of the 19th century and has never been out of print. The novel's influence extends beyond literature into film, with multiple adaptations including the legendary 1959 version featuring the iconic chariot race sequence. This Signet Classics edition preserves Wallace's original text while making it accessible to modern readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eThis Edition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis paperback edition from Signet Classics includes an introduction by Tim LaHaye, noted author and minister recognized for his work in Christian fiction and Bible prophecy. The edition maintains the complete, unabridged text of Wallace's original work, allowing readers to experience the full scope of this literary classic as the author intended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ci\u003eBen-Hur\u003c\/i\u003e is the remarkable saga of a man framed for attempting to murder a Roman official, and condemned to death as a galley slave. Epic in scope, it recreates Imperial Rome from a thrilling sea battle, to the famous chariot race, to the agony of Crucifixion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLewis Wallace was born in 1827, in Brookville, Indiana, the son of David (the future governor of Indiana) and Esther Test Wallace (the daughter of Indiana's first U.S. congressman). He left school at the age of sixteen, and worked as an assistant in his father's law firm until the outbreak of the Mexican War. Wallace joined the fighting as a second lieutenant in the First Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, but did not see much action. During this time, he worked on his first novel. After the war, Wallace returned to the law and was admitted to the Indiana Bar. He was eventually elected to the state senate, where he served until the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, when he resumed soldiering. He became the youngest man to hold the rank of major general. Continuing in service to his country, Wallace served on the military commission responsible for trying and sentencing those involved in the assassination of President Lincoln, and aided Benito Juarez in trying to establish a constitutional government in Mexico. In 1878, Wallace became the territorial governor of New Mexico, and during his 3-year tenure wrote \u003cb\u003eBen-Hur\u003c\/b\u003e (1880). The rest of Wallace's life saw the publication of lesser literary efforts, and the appointment as minister of Turkey. He died in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1905.\u003cbr\u003eTim LaHaye is a noted author, minister, and nationally recognized speaker on Bible prophecy. He is the founder and president of Tim LaHaye Ministries, and the cofounder of the Pre-Trib Research Center, established for the purpose of exposing ministers to Bible prophecy. He holds a doctor of ministry from Western Theological Seminary and a doctor of literature from Liberty University. A pastor for thirty-nine years, LaHaye has written more than fifty nonfiction books and co-authored the \u003ci\u003eLeft Behind\u003c\/i\u003e, the most successful Christian fiction venture in publishing history, with Jerry Jenkins.","brand":"Signet Book","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50680617664786,"sku":"9780451532091","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_c1117b7d-93a2-4595-aaca-a759d07c85fc.jpg?v=1734923249","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/ben-hur-9780451532091","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}