This review was a long time coming. I first encountered Ben Hur in another book; I was intrigued and vowed to read it.
Fast-forward a few years. I bought the book for a loved one and promised to read it after I achieved a specific goal. That goal has been achieved, and I indulged myself!
Synopsis
The story is about a young Jewish prince, Judah Ben-Hur, who was accused of attempted assassination of the Roman governor of Judaea. The Romans consequently enslaved him and sent him to the Galley.
It intertwines the life of Jesus Christ with Ben-Hur, who suffered betrayal by Messala, injustice, and brutality from the Romans and hoped for a Jewish king to vanquish the Roman empire.
Thoughts
As a fan of no-spoiler reviews, let’s go straight to how much I enjoyed it.
Ben Hur wasn’t what I expected; the descriptions, the lifestyle, the culture, and the people blew me away.
Ben Hur reminded me a bit of The Count of Monte Cristo. However, unlike the Count, he was more compassionate and loving. His love for his family made him take risks that were unheard of at that time.
Although he had a relationship with God, it was not until he encountered Christ that his life changed anew. He wanted revenge and might have ruined a life, but he learned to forgive.
Ben Hur reflected themes of betrayal, injustice, brutality, conviction, and redemption, with a revenge plot leading to love and compassion.
“Riches take wings, comforts vanish, hope withers away, but love stays with us. Love is God.”
It is a long read, but I can assure you that once you start, you will want to finish it. I will definitely pick it up again for a re-read.
General Lew Wallace actually wrote this book, but this is his granddaughter’s version. I might one day pick his version and read it.
PS: I had the opportunity to watch the movie adaptation of Ben Hur, but I told myself to read the book first. Now that I am done with the book, I am ready for the movie! So look out for a Book vs. Movie review for Ben Hur!
