To be given an understanding of why Lew Wallace wrote his novel, his life and trials along with triumphs should speak to our generation today. I learned a lot more of the history of Lew Wallace and the movie Ben-Hur with what is included in the book and I am so thankful. The Jewish community wants a king who will come and throw off the Roman yoke, but what is it the Christ is bringing?

Messala is a few years older and Roman to the core. Judah Ben-Hur is a young teen unsure of his way in life.

She highlights the vast differences in the way the young teens were raised with different ideologies and beliefs. Carol brings to the forefront a gripping tension between Judah Ben-Hur and his friend the Roman Messala right from the beginning. I loved Carol Wallace’s Ben-Hur for many reasons besides it being easier to read. I own a copy of the original novel in paperback form, and it is a trial to read because of the language back then, but it is still something to be treasured. As I read the novel, there were aspects of the tale of Christ that I remembered from the original story, but this time I got to read a different perspective in other parts of the novel. Again, for some, it may be really hard not to compare, but please don’t as they are different in many ways and yet the central character is still Jesus. A new Ben-Hur movie will be released in August 2016. Most people my age are familiar with the Ben-Hur movie that starred Charleton Heston in the 1950’s. What a captivating and enthralling story Ben-Hur is along with a short history of Lew Wallace who wrote the original story in the 1800’s! When you read this novel, don’t expect or compare this to Lew Wallace’s story as both are unique and inspiring.

1880 lew wallace novel