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Minimal signs of wear. Corners and cover may show wear. May contain highlighting and or writing. May be missing dust jacket. May not include supplemental materials. May be a former library book. Ships direct from Amazon! Minimal signs of wear. Corners and cover may show wear. May contain highlighting and or writing. May be missing dust jacket. May not include supplemental materials. May be a former library book. Ships direct from Amazon! See less
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Ben-Hur (Signet Classics) Mass Market Paperback – April 3, 2012

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,260 ratings

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Ben-Hur 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.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Compared with other romances . . . Ben-Hur easily passes them all, by a vitality which has a touch of genius.” —Carl Van Doren

About the Author

Lewis 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 Ben-Hur (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.
Tim 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
Left Behind, the most successful Christian fiction venture in publishing history, with Jerry Jenkins.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Signet; Reissue edition (April 3, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 576 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0451532090
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0451532091
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 990L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1.25 x 6.65 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,260 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,260 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable, with a meaningful storyline woven around Biblical truths. They appreciate the depth and detail of the book. Readers praise the descriptive and sympathetic portrayal of characters. Opinions vary on the writing style, with some finding it well-written and readable, while others feel the language is stilted or hard to read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

269 customers mention "Readability"265 positive4 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They say it is worth reading, with a well-crafted plot and page-turning adventure. Many reviewers mention that the book exceeds the movie version.

"...No point in my re-telling the novel for you. It's rewarding, as one of those reads you will always carry with you (mentally). Do read this one." Read more

"...And don't believe that it is dated or unreadable. It is worth the plunge, worth the patience, worth the experience of surrendering to Wallace and..." Read more

"...moral questions about wealth and vengeance, and there is a lot of page-turning adventure...." Read more

"...Beyond amazing." Read more

112 customers mention "Storyline"101 positive11 negative

Customers find the storyline meaningful and interesting. They appreciate the historical perspective and the intersection of history, religion, and fiction. The book is described as an exciting read from a long-gone era. Readers find it inspiring and moving, with a message that we can make positive changes.

"...The hero is a Jew, and the novel is a story of a great Jewish family; and yet it is truly a story of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His entrance into..." Read more

"...1884 classic Count of Monte Cristo because it raises moral questions about wealth and vengeance, and there is a lot of page-turning adventure...." Read more

"...It truly is inspired...." Read more

"...the Bible fully wice, but it continues to amaze me daily with its open truth, and invitation to explore...." Read more

43 customers mention "Depth"37 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the book. They find it has more information and insight than the movies. The book is detailed with many subplots that tie together. Readers find the characterizations rich and the descriptions thorough. Overall, they describe the story as captivating and thoughtful, starting out as a collection of different tidbits about Jesus' life.

"...It puts you RIGHT THERE, and you experience what it's like from a different point-of-view...." Read more

"...There's more characters, more sub-plots, and a different structure all together. It does have some flaws to note...." Read more

"...It starts out as a compendium of different tidbits about the days of Jesus of Nazareth thus mirrors the theology of the time when it was written...." Read more

"...I found it especially helpful in learning about the culture during the New Testemant. I feel as if I can visual the events that went on in the Bible...." Read more

23 customers mention "Character development"23 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's character development. They appreciate the descriptive eloquence of the characters, places, smells, and events. The story is described as wonderful, with sympathetic portrayals of men and women, a great plot, and historical details.

"...It is peopled with mostly fictional characters, the exception being the biblical Jesus, his followers, and various actual Roman and Jewish leaders..." Read more

"...Again, Lew Wallace deserves his own filmed biography. He was a remarkable man...." Read more

"...Wallace makes the characters interesting and easy to relate with, even given the differences in language between then and now, and the tendency of..." Read more

"...the same story as the film, only with much, much more amplification of characters and relationships...." Read more

126 customers mention "Writing style"83 positive43 negative

Customers have different views on the writing style. Some find it well-written and readable, with an eloquent language. Others feel the language is stilted and anachronistic for modern readers. They also mention archaic grammar and sentence constructions.

"...edition which I am reviewing, are economically priced, beautifully illustrated, printed, and bound editions which form an attractive core for the..." Read more

"...of surrendering to Wallace and his immense gift as a storyteller and a poet. There is so much in this story I can't begin to describe it...." Read more

"...It does have some flaws to note. The language is anachronistic to modern readers, with lots of 'thees' and 'thous' thrown in, that can take a bit..." Read more

"...times I still am amazed at the talent and inspiration of Lew Wallace in writing this classic. It truly is inspired...." Read more

19 customers mention "Interest"11 positive8 negative

Customers have different views on the book's interest. Some find it interesting and exciting, with picturesque descriptions. Others feel it lacks interest and is not as enjoyable to read as expected.

"...The story so captured me, that I couldn't STOP. It's exciting and full of very picturesque descriptions of the environment of those times around..." Read more

"...It was ponderous reading & to me--boring at times...." Read more

"...The book is obviously highly researched and gives really interesting and detailed perspective of the sociopolitical climate which existed during the..." Read more

"...the movie actually occurs about 2/3s of the book, and the end of the book is anticlimatic." Read more

15 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's pacing. Some find it very different from the movie and set in another country, culture, philosophy, religion, etc. It is gentle, passionate, touching, and terrible. Others say it is slow-moving at times.

"...At times the book drags on. It is FICTION, so the story of Ben-Hur is not something that had to be preserved in the movie...." Read more

"...This is also set in another country, culture, philosophy, religion, etc. The writing is well done, the story compelling, and well worth your time." Read more

"...He paints a very graphic picture but at times the story moved slowly because of it...." Read more

"This book was really very different than the movie. It has great depth and thought with it. Plus as is usual with a book, there is far more to it ...." Read more

9 customers mention "Age"6 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's age. Some find it modern and elegant, while others find it dated and slow-paced.

"...Especially the last 10 chapters. A good read for young adults & old as well." Read more

"...I know it is old, but I even like it more than Gresham." Read more

"The story is great and the writing is well done and almost seems modern compared to other books I have read that were written in the 19th century...." Read more

"A classic in beautiful format" Read more

Kindle & Audible Apps not compatible as one step
3 out of 5 stars
Kindle & Audible Apps not compatible as one step
8-23-15, I purchased the audio service but: The audible service through Amazon as described to read along as you listen would not work as explained. I downloaded the Kindle software on both iPad & PC; the ear/headphone icon does not appear on either for ease of access. I called Amazon's tech support who first advised the icon would not appear on my PC, but should appear on my IPad. It did not. I was transferred twice - 3rd person said it wasn't syncing right and wanted to transfer me again. I declined.So as a workaround I canceled the Ben Hur book and went to Audible to formally open an account. Went back to Amazon bought the book again, but still ... the app doesn't work as it should,. I like to listen and read along. Now I have two steps - ON IPAD: 1) open the audible app in one window ... 2) open the Kindle app in another window. ON PC I have to open the audio in ITunes not Audible. I'll cancel when my free month is up.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2011
    Lew Wallace's Ben-Hur commonly appears on "Best Novels Ever Written" lists. The Reader's Digest World's Best Reading Series hardcover edition which I am reviewing, are economically priced, beautifully illustrated, printed, and bound editions which form an attractive core for the home library shelves. There are dozens of titles (great titles, obviously), and when I stumble across one at the right price, I add it to my shelf . . . which has become the best looking shelf in my library. Highly recommended, now on to Ben-Hur:

    This is an iconic novel of Palestine, Rome, and Greece at around the beginning of the common era. It is peopled with mostly fictional characters, the exception being the biblical Jesus, his followers, and various actual Roman and Jewish leaders of the era.

    The syntax can be difficult at times. . . stilted, formal. The story is of a young Jewish man, a subject of persecution by Rome, and his occasional crossing of paths with Jesus as the biblical story is woven in, and quite accurately I might add. I am a fairly vigorous Bible scholar, and with above average knowledge regarding the city of Jerusalem. I was extremely pleased with the Wallace recounting of the biblical tale, and fleshing it out with fictional detail. Very believable and very accurate. The plot is intricate, well told, and engaging. The story was also very moving at times.

    Regarding things "religious" . . . quiz a hundred people regarding Bible "truth" and you'll get a hundred responses. That said, compared to my understanding of what the Bible says (which in my eyes is The Truth, and not always in alignment with mainstream.), I was much pleased that there were very few variations from this in Ben-Hur.

    No point in my re-telling the novel for you. It's rewarding, as one of those reads you will always carry with you (mentally). Do read this one.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2007
    General Lew Wallace deserves his own movie, so interesting was his life, and so great was his achievement with this mammoth novel. What is so magnificent to me here is that Ben Hur is about Jews as well as Christians. It's a story of Christ that unites us, rather than divides us. The hero is a Jew, and the novel is a story of a great Jewish family; and yet it is truly a story of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His entrance into history. How many other great Christian novels can interest our Jewish brothers and sisters the way this one can? Too much of our later Christian writing and films is marred by needless anti-Semitism. Not this monumental book! And don't believe that it is dated or unreadable. It is worth the plunge, worth the patience, worth the experience of surrendering to Wallace and his immense gift as a storyteller and a poet. There is so much in this story I can't begin to describe it. ---- The great motion picture versions of the book are vital and transforming today as they were when they were created. --- I hope the novel inspires Christian writers by its absence of bias against the Jewish people, the people who are Our Lord's people. I recommend you buy the new paperback version, of course, but also treat yourself to some of the old venerable hard covers still available; and if you cannot read the book word for word, then move to those parts which draw you in and move on from them. There are times when the writing can put you in a trance with its beauty and its pace. Again, Lew Wallace deserves his own filmed biography. He was a remarkable man. He made history with this book, putting it into the hands of millions of Americans who never read novels at all, and drawing people to Christ with his rich and unforgettable story. He gave Jews and Christians alike a classic that is now an American legend.
    21 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2024
    I read a lot of books that are not on the modern bestseller lists. But many of these older books -- like Sinclair Lewis's Main Street, for example -- refer to Ben Hur as a novel of great importance that should be read by all. I am old, so I remember (sort of -- I was very young, after all) Ben Hur from the 1959 epic movie starring Charlton Heston (otherwise known as Moses from the Ten Commandments). All I remembered from the movie was the great chariot race, and one scene involving eye contact between Ben Hur and Jesus on Mount Cavalry. I don't know how faithful the movie was to the novel, but suffice it to say that my memory had left out quite a story. In some respects, it reminded me of the 1884 classic Count of Monte Cristo because it raises moral questions about wealth and vengeance, and there is a lot of page-turning adventure. But, of course, a great deal of the focus is on religion; after all, the subtitle is "A Tale of the Christ." This is one of those old classics that, like the Vicar of Wakefield, keep popping up in the discussions of characters in other novels of the time and of the several decades that followed. I think that I have said enough to show that I think it is definitely worth reading.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024
    After seeing the movie several times I still am amazed at the talent and inspiration of Lew Wallace in writing this classic. It truly is inspired. After serving as a Union General in the Civil War, he wrote this novel using mail order maps of the Holy Land, the Middle East and Rome as it existed in 30-33 AD while he served as Governor of the New Mexico Territory during the days of Billy the Kid. Beyond amazing.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Ursula G. (Gaye) Webber
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ben-Hur
    Reviewed in Canada on August 9, 2022
    Expect to enjoy re-reading this book. Easy-to-use paper back format for those of us who like to read in bed.
  • Cir
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente libro
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 29, 2021
    Excelente libro, llego en perfectas condiciones
  • AJZ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Es un Best Seller en toda regla.
    Reviewed in Spain on October 16, 2020
    Esta en el Top Ten de los mejores libros que he leido.
    Altamente recomendable.
  • Venkatesh
    5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling story happening at the time of Christ's living
    Reviewed in India on January 16, 2017
    An interesting story set at the time of Christ's coming. It tells us about the happenings around the time of his life. Not just moralistic, but a story to read. A definite must read.
  • こむそうや
    5.0 out of 5 stars 超お買い得のCD
    Reviewed in Japan on January 19, 2018
    このCDパッケージは、なんと18枚組。値段がたったの1823円なので、unabrided 版というのが半信半疑だった。が・・・堂々たる18枚組。CD1枚100円の見当だ。やすっ!だから、どこかに手抜きがあるんじゃなかろうかと思って、原書と睨めっこしながらCD1の1trackを聴いてみたら、原書の通りの完全版だ。ナレーションには、よく映画のナレーションで聴くような、ちょっと大げさで籠ったような鼻にかかったような響きというか余韻があるが、まあまあ明瞭かつきれいな発音で聴きやすい。なまじ映画俳優がナレーションをしていると声の響きが悪くて聞こえが悪いが、この声優の声はなかなかいい(ただ好きなタイプの声じゃないのが玉に瑕・・・だがこれは趣味の問題)。これはお買い得の商品である。ベンハーという超大作の完全版朗読CDがこの値段で入手できるのはさすがアマゾンだ。