BEN HUR

A Harper Perennial Legacy Edition

One of the best-selling books of all time, Lew Wallace’s enduring epic is a tale of revenge, betrayal, honor, compassion and the power of forgiveness, set during the life of Christ

At the beginning of the first century, Judah Ben-Hur lived as a prince, descended from the royal line of Judea and one of the Jerusalem’s most prosperous merchant families. But his world falls apart when his best friend betrays him, falsely accusing him of an attempt to assassinate the Roman governor.

Convicted without trial, Judah is sentenced to slavery on a Roman galley, while his mother and sister are imprisoned and his family’s assets seized. Just before boarding the ship, Ben-Hur has his first interaction with the Christ, who offers him water, and their lives continue to intersect as Judah miraculously survives his time as a slave, becomes a charioteer, falls in love with the beautiful Esther, and tries to avenge his family. 

Duels, hidden identities, shipwreck, romance, miracles—Ben-Hur has something for everyone. A true epic,Ben-Hur blends biblical history and a rich adventure plot into a timeless tale sure to entertain a new generation of readers.