Ben-Hur - Lew Wallace

is a novel published in 1880. It follows Judah Ben-Hur, aJewishprince fromJerusalemwhois falsely accused of attempted assassination and enslaved by the Romans. As he endures brutal servitude and later becomes a charioteer, his path repeat edly crosses with Jesus Christ. The story weavesthemesofbetrayal, revenge, andredemption, ultimately transforming from a tale of vengeance into one of love, compassion, and forgiveness sther-Esther! Speaktotheservantbelowthathemaybringmeacup of water." "Wouldyounotrather have wine, father?" "Let him bring both." This was in the summer-house upon the roof of the old palace of the Hurs in Jerusalem. From the parapet overlooking the court-yard Esther called to a man in waiting there; at the same moment another man-servant came up the steps and saluted respectfully. "Apackageforthemaster,"hesaid,givingheraletterenclosedinlinencloth, tied and sealed. For the satisfaction of the reader, we stop to saythat it is the twenty-first day ofMarch,nearlythreeyearsaftertheannunciationoftheChristatBethabaraIn the meanwhile, Malluch, acting for Ben-Hur, who could not longer en dure the emptiness and decay of his father’s house, had bought it from Pon tius Pilate; and, in process of repair, gates, courts, lewens, stairways, terraces, rooms, and roof had been cleansed and thoroughly restored; not only was there no reminder left of the tragic circumstances so ruinous to the family, but the refurnishment was in a style richer than before. At every point, indeed, a visitor was met by evidences of the higher tastes acquired by the young proprietor during his years of residence in the villa by Misenum and in the Romancapital. Now itshouldnotbe inferredfrom thisexplanation thatBen-Hurhadpub licly assumed ownership of the property. In his opinion, the hour for that was not yet come. Neither had he yet taken his proper name. Passing the time in the labors of preparation in Galilee, he waited patiently the action of the Nazarene,whobecamedailymoreandmoreamysterytohim,andby prodigies done, often before his eyes, kept him in a state of anxious doubt both as to his character and mission. Occasionally he came up to the Holy City, stopping at the paternal house; always, however, as a stranger and a guest. These visits of Ben-Hur, it should also be observed, were for more than mere rest from labor. Balthasar and Iras made their home in the palace; and the charm of the daughter was still upon him with all its original freshness, while the father, though feebler in body, held him an unflagging listener to speechesofastonishingpower,urgingthedivinityofthewanderingmiracle worker of whom theywere all so expectant