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Ben-Hur (Oxford World's Classics)
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You Save: $ 13.95 ( 100% )
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Author: Lew Wallace
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price:
You Save: $ 13.95 ( 100% )
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Author: Lew Wallace
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Average Customer Rating:
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Ben-Hur (Oxford World's Classics) Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.4
EAN: 9780192831996
ISBN: 0192831992
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 560
Publication Date: 1998-09-10
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.4
EAN: 9780192831996
ISBN: 0192831992
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 560
Publication Date: 1998-09-10
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
Editorial Review of Ben-Hur (Oxford World's Classics)
A spiritual tale of the quest for love, the recovery of identity and patrimony, Ben-Hur never fails to delight in its detail and realism. As David Mayer's introduction makes explicit, Ben-Hur is marked by traces of contemporary issues and American Victorian concerns and tensions which shed important light on social and cultural history.
Customer Reviews of Ben-Hur (Oxford World's Classics)
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A book for Jews and Christians; a legend
Review: General Lew Wallace deserves his own movie, so interesting was his life, and so great was his achievement with this mammoth novel. What is so magnificent to me here is that Ben Hur is about Jews as well as Christians. It's a story of Christ that unites us, rather than divides us. The hero is a Jew, and the novel is a story of a great Jewish family; and yet it is truly a story of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His entrance into history. How many other great Christian novels can interest our Jewish brothers and sisters the way this one can? Too much of our later Christian writing and films is marred by needless anti-Semitism. Not this monumental book! And don't believe that it is dated or unreadable. It is worth the plunge, worth the patience, worth the experience of surrendering to Wallace and his immense gift as a storyteller and a poet. There is so much in this story I can't begin to describe it. ---- The great motion picture versions of the book are vital and transforming today as they were when they were created. --- I hope the novel inspires Christian writers by its absence of bias against the Jewish people, the people who are Our Lord's people. I recommend you buy the new paperback version, of course, but also treat yourself to some of the old venerable hard covers still available; and if you cannot read the book word for word, then move to those parts which draw you in and move on from them. There are times when the writing can put you in a trance with its beauty and its pace. Again, Lew Wallace deserves his own filmed biography. He was a remarkable man. He made history with this book, putting it into the hands of millions of Americans who never read novels at all, and drawing people to Christ with his rich and unforgettable story. He gave Jews and Christians alike a classic that is now an American legend.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A very interesting Novel
Review: I recently finished reading "Ben-Hur" and I must comment that I'm glad I took the time to read it. The only reason I gave the work four stars instead of five is because Wallace's vivid details make the book somewhat tedious at times. The plot is very well conceived and Wallace created some memorable characters although I felt the characterization was not quite as good as in another famous nineteenth century Roman Epic "Quo Vadis". The way in which Wallace weaved the story together with the life of Christ and the political situation in Judea was effective. Despite being famous for the chariot race in Antioch, I believe the most powerful scenes were involving Ben-Hur's leprous mother and sister as well as Christ's crucifixtion. The ending is generally positive though somewhat of a cliff hanger if one thinks about it. I recommend the 1959 movie version as well as the book.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Ben Hur, a tale of the Christ
Review: When I was 12 years old I first read this book, and have declared to my friends over the years that it is one of two best stories ever! The nativity story is the best account of the holy family. Sadly, the movie did not do justice to the book. I highly reccomend this to all ages of readers.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Hard, but soooooo rewarding!!!
Review: I read this for a book report and I had a hard time figuring out some of the words, especially the ones not found in the dictionary. Nevertheless, it's AWESOME!!!! I absolutely loved it! It's not a story that's predictable and full of cliches. It's fresh for the modern reader and gives an awesome perspective on the life of Christ from the view of a first century Jew. Great book!!!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: An amazing classic
Review: A previous reviewer praised the book, but said it was for students and scholars. I disagree with this assessment. I am neither a student, nor a scholar. I have long enjoyed the movie Ben-Hur, so I decided to pick up the book, since I have always found novels to be far better than the movies that they inspire. I was slightly worried after reading some reviews that made it sound like a dull history book. After reading Ben-Hur, I was very pleasantly surprised. It does contain historical information, and is rich with detail, but it is also action packed. I found myself not wanting to put it down until I was finished.
This is a book to be read and enjoyed by everyone. Whether you are an English major, or a business grad (like me), this book is for you.
Review Summary: A book for Jews and Christians; a legend
Review: General Lew Wallace deserves his own movie, so interesting was his life, and so great was his achievement with this mammoth novel. What is so magnificent to me here is that Ben Hur is about Jews as well as Christians. It's a story of Christ that unites us, rather than divides us. The hero is a Jew, and the novel is a story of a great Jewish family; and yet it is truly a story of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His entrance into history. How many other great Christian novels can interest our Jewish brothers and sisters the way this one can? Too much of our later Christian writing and films is marred by needless anti-Semitism. Not this monumental book! And don't believe that it is dated or unreadable. It is worth the plunge, worth the patience, worth the experience of surrendering to Wallace and his immense gift as a storyteller and a poet. There is so much in this story I can't begin to describe it. ---- The great motion picture versions of the book are vital and transforming today as they were when they were created. --- I hope the novel inspires Christian writers by its absence of bias against the Jewish people, the people who are Our Lord's people. I recommend you buy the new paperback version, of course, but also treat yourself to some of the old venerable hard covers still available; and if you cannot read the book word for word, then move to those parts which draw you in and move on from them. There are times when the writing can put you in a trance with its beauty and its pace. Again, Lew Wallace deserves his own filmed biography. He was a remarkable man. He made history with this book, putting it into the hands of millions of Americans who never read novels at all, and drawing people to Christ with his rich and unforgettable story. He gave Jews and Christians alike a classic that is now an American legend.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A very interesting Novel
Review: I recently finished reading "Ben-Hur" and I must comment that I'm glad I took the time to read it. The only reason I gave the work four stars instead of five is because Wallace's vivid details make the book somewhat tedious at times. The plot is very well conceived and Wallace created some memorable characters although I felt the characterization was not quite as good as in another famous nineteenth century Roman Epic "Quo Vadis". The way in which Wallace weaved the story together with the life of Christ and the political situation in Judea was effective. Despite being famous for the chariot race in Antioch, I believe the most powerful scenes were involving Ben-Hur's leprous mother and sister as well as Christ's crucifixtion. The ending is generally positive though somewhat of a cliff hanger if one thinks about it. I recommend the 1959 movie version as well as the book.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Ben Hur, a tale of the Christ
Review: When I was 12 years old I first read this book, and have declared to my friends over the years that it is one of two best stories ever! The nativity story is the best account of the holy family. Sadly, the movie did not do justice to the book. I highly reccomend this to all ages of readers.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Hard, but soooooo rewarding!!!
Review: I read this for a book report and I had a hard time figuring out some of the words, especially the ones not found in the dictionary. Nevertheless, it's AWESOME!!!! I absolutely loved it! It's not a story that's predictable and full of cliches. It's fresh for the modern reader and gives an awesome perspective on the life of Christ from the view of a first century Jew. Great book!!!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: An amazing classic
Review: A previous reviewer praised the book, but said it was for students and scholars. I disagree with this assessment. I am neither a student, nor a scholar. I have long enjoyed the movie Ben-Hur, so I decided to pick up the book, since I have always found novels to be far better than the movies that they inspire. I was slightly worried after reading some reviews that made it sound like a dull history book. After reading Ben-Hur, I was very pleasantly surprised. It does contain historical information, and is rich with detail, but it is also action packed. I found myself not wanting to put it down until I was finished.
This is a book to be read and enjoyed by everyone. Whether you are an English major, or a business grad (like me), this book is for you.