Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880) by Lew Wallace is one of the most popular and beloved 19th century American novels. This faithful New Testament tale combines the events of the life of Jesus with grand historical spectacle in the exciting story of Judah of the House of Hur, a man who finds extraordinary redemption for himself and his family. In the time of Christ, Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur is sent to the Roman galleys for an accidental "assassination attempt" on the Roman governor. The book chronicles his attempts to free himself and locate his mother and sister; along the way he has various encounters with biblical characters, including Jesus himself. Ben-Hur is full of rich historical detail, and the works and miracles that Christ does, and their effects on the characters, give the book a significant emotional weight. Beyond that, Wallace's characters love to sit around and discuss theology in detail, and there's quite a bit of solid Christology to be found here. The novel Ben-Hur is a powerful, moving story-a classic of faith, fortitude, and inspiration.