Ben-Hur, written in 1880, was one of the best selling American novels of its time. It has also been called, "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century".

en-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is a novel by Lew Wallace published on November 12, 1880 by Harper & Brothers. Wallace's work is part of an important sub-genre of historical fiction set among the characters of the New Testament. The novel was a phenomenal best-seller; it soon surpassed Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) as the best-selling American novel and retained this distinction until the 1936 publication of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind.The central character is Judah, prince of the Hebrew house of Hur. Judah grows up in Jerusalem, during the turbulent years around the birth of Christ. His best friend is Messala, a Roman. As adults Judah and Messala become rivals, each hating the other, which leads to Judah's downfall and eventual triumph. Elements of the story include leprosy, naval battles among galleys, the Roman hippodrome, Roman adoption, Magus Balthasar, the Arab sheikh Ilderim.

Presented in their complete text and updated for easier reading, each story in the Great Stories Collection is truly unique. Each has been rigorously critiqued and selected for the quality of its Christian content, the value in its message, and its ability to bring and bind a family together. In-depth introductions detail both the authors and the times in which they lived. Many books feature original woodcut illustrations. Complete with thought-provoking questions, these books are keepsakes to be treasured for years to come. Perfect additions to the adult fiction section. An unforgettable account of betrayal, revenge, and rebellion. Lew Wallace tells the story of a Jewish nobleman who fell from Roman favor and was sentenced to life as a slave-all at the hands of his childhood friend. Years later "Ben-Hur" regains his freedom in the famous chariot race. Through everything, "Ben-Hur" has an encounter with the grace of God.