Lew Wallace grew up to be a governor, foreign minister, Civil War general, inventor, and artist. But he is best known today as the author of the novel Ben-Hur. Lew Wallace: Boy Writer is the latest entry in the Patria Press "Young Patriots" series and the fascinating story of Wallace as a Midwest American youth who grew up like other boys of his era -- including the occasional playing of hooky from school! Martha Schaaf has definitively researched and superbly presented the life of Wallace from the age of 5 through 19. Also very highly recommended in this outstanding series are: Amelia Earhart: Young Air Pioneer (1882859022, [price]) and William Henry Harrison: Young Tippecanoe (1882859030, [price]. All three titles would make a popular and much appreciated addition to any personal, school or community library biography collection for young readers.

Before he grew up to become the author of the best-selling novel, "Ben-Hur," inventor and Civil War general, Lew Wallace was a young boy playing in the midwestern fields and streams who would rather draw than spell, and would rather read than do math. Kids will cheer for Lew's dramatic rescue of his baby brother from beneath the wheels of the family carriage, share his joy at discovering the world of books, and feel his pain at the punishment he suffered in the schoolroom.

The book features the adventures of Lew Wallace as a child, and is an introduction to biography written for ages 8-12. Kids will love the story, parents and teachers will appreciate the historic context in which the book is written. Detailed illustrations enhance the text and give a real flavor of the times. "Lew Wallace" is Volume 3 in the Young Patriots Series--don't miss Volume 1, "Amelia Earhart, Young Air Pioneer," and Volume 2, "William Henry Harrison, Young Tippecanoe." You can get all titles in the series in paperback and hardback.

Lew Wallace was an amazing man. From his encounters with Billy the Kid to his search for the Eternal Wanderer, subject of the Prince of India, his opus novel. Now, a new book from Amazon details the quest of Lew Wallace to locate the Eternal Wanderer. Read MAL TEMPO to see what happened after Wallace's autobiography ends...

I read this book in three days. I couldn't put it down. I can honestly say that Ben-Hur, without a doubt, is my favorite book.

It's about a Jew named Judah Ben-Hur living in Israel during the time of Christ. He accidentally "kills" a Roman governor. Judah was on the roof of his house and the Roman guy was below him on his horse in the street. One of the tiles on the roof of Judah's house comes loose and it scares the horse, who rears, sending the Roman flying off it.

Judah is accused as an assassin and is sent to work as a galley slave for life. On his way there, Joseph the carpenter and Jesus come into Jerusalem. Joseph is talking with Roman soldier when Jesus sees Judah, who is in agony (it's sweltering hot), and gives him water.

You'll just have to read the rest for yourself. It's definitely worth it! But I will tell you that later in the story is a really cool chariot race scene between Judah and his enemy, Messala. It's so awesome! I know you'll enjoy Ben-Hur.

In 1880 Union General Lew Wallace was stationed at a Western outpost when he began writing Ben Hur to dispel the boredom of his job. General Wallace who fought in some of the major campaigns of the Civil War was also questioning the meaning of his faith when the novel was written.

There are few who do not know the basic premise of this novel and fewer still who have not seen the monumental MGM film based on it. This story chronicles the life of Judah Ben Hur and his desire for revenge against the Roman Messala and all of Rome for the wrongs done him and his family.

In plot the story is simple enough. Ben Hur has been wrongly convicted of an attempt to kill the Roman Governor of Judea and sentenced to death on the Roman galleys. His fortune has been stolen and his family locked away in a dungeon. Ben Hur survives the galleys and defeats his enemy in the now famous chariot race at the Circus at Antioch.

If this were the end of Wallace's story we would have been left with a decent story of revenge and nothing more. However, Wallace incorporates into his story (bookends it really) with the story of the Passion of Jesus.

Wallace uses the coming of Jesus to examine the issues of his own faith. To analyze the dual nature of Jesus as King and Redeemer. To Ben Hur and the fiercely nationalist Jews of his time the world was waiting for a King to come to overthrow the power of Rome. Ben Hur sees this king as an element of his revenge against Rome and uses his restored fortune to build an army in support of the king.

By the end of the novel Ben Hur realizes that the King was not to come to overthrow Rome but to be a Redeemer of souls. That the kingdom to be created was not to be one of this world.

Wallace's narrative takes some time to get used to. It is sluggish and detail oriented. Literally everything is described. If you are looking for a fast read this book is not for you. If you are looking for a novel in the grand scale which also works as a powerful religous meditation give this one a try. The book was a great best seller when it was written and it can still be powerful 120 years later.

Ben Hur is a great book. It deals with Christianity and one man's jouney to finding the Lord. Ben Hur is a rich young Jewish man with a perfect life. Then his life is shattered by an unfortunate accident. He is sent to be a galley slave for a crime he did not commit. The rest of the book deals with his quest for revenge on the boyhood friend who betrayed him and his desperate search for his mother and sister. Though the book he moves closer to the Lord. Ben Hur is very long and not an easy read.

Ben-Hur is a story of a young Jewish prince who is sent as a to the galleys of the Romans. Saving the captian's life he gets adopted by the captian. Even then his troubles are not over. This book is to the very end. Even then you want to read more!