Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

"Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ" by Lew Wallace is a captivating story featuring two contrasting heroes. The main protagonist, Judah Ben-Hur, starts as a prince in Jerusalem but falls into trouble when he is accused of intentionally causing an accident involving the Roman procurator. As a punishment, he is taken as a galley-slave while his family is imprisoned and their possessions seized. However, fate takes a turn when Ben-Hur saves the fleet captain from drowning, leading to his adoption as the captain's son and heir. Under Roman training, Ben-Hur excels in the arena and the palistrae, gaining recognition and potentially setting the stage for a promising military career.