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''Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ'' is a novel by Lew Wallace, published by Harper & Brothers on November 12, 1880. Considered "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century",〔 it became a best-selling American novel, surpassing Harriet Beecher Stowe's ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (1852) in sales. The book also inspired other novels with biblical settings and was adapted for the stage and motion picture productions. ''Ben-Hur'' remained at the top of the bestseller lists until the publication of Margaret Mitchell's ''Gone with the Wind'' (1936). Following the release of the 1959 MGM film adaptation of ''Ben-Hur'', which was seen by tens of millions and won eleven Academy Awards in 1960, the book's sales increased and it surpassed ''Gone with the Wind''.〔Wallace, Lew (1998) ''Ben-Hur''. Oxford World's Classics, p. vii.〕 Blessed by Pope Leo XIII, the novel was the first work of fiction to be so honored.〔Asimov, Isaac. ''Isaac Asimov's Book of Facts'', New York: Random House Value Publishing, 1981〕 The success of the novel and its stage and film adaptations also helped it become a popular cultural icon that was used to promote numerous commercial products. The story recounts in descriptive detail the adventures of Judah Ben-Hur, a fictional Jewish prince from Jerusalem, who is enslaved by the Romans at the beginning of the 1st century and becomes a charioteer and a Christian. Running in parallel with Judah's narrative is the unfolding story of Jesus, who comes from the same region and is a similar age.〔For a discussion of the historical Jesus, see 〕 The novel reflects themes of betrayal, conviction, and redemption, with a revenge plot that leads to a story of love and compassion. ==Plot summary== ''Ben-Hur'' is a heroic story of a fictional hero named Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman who was falsely accused of an attempted assassination and enslaved by the Romans. He becomes a successful charioteer.〔Morsberger and Morsberger, p. 298.〕〔Miller, p. 155.〕 The story's revenge plot becomes a story of compassion and forgiveness.〔 The novel is divided into eight books, or parts, each with its own subchapters. Book one opens with the story of the three biblical Magi, who arrive in Bethlehem to hear the news of Christ’s birth. Readers meet the fictional character of Judah for the first time in book two, when his childhood friend Messala, also a fictional character, returns home as an ambitious commanding officer of the Roman legions. The teen-aged boys come to realize that they have changed and hold very different views and aspirations. When a loose tile is accidentally dislodged from the roof of Judah's house during a military parade and strikes the Roman governor, knocking him from his horse, Messala falsely accuses Judah of attempted assassination. Although Judah is not guilty and receives no trial, he is sent to the Roman galleys for life; his mother and sister are imprisoned in a Roman jail, where they contract leprosy; and all the family property is confiscated. Judah first encounters Jesus, who offers him a drink of water and encouragement, just before Judah is forced into slavery aboard a Roman galley. Their lives continue to intersect as the story unfolds.〔 In book three Judah survives his ordeal as a galley slave through good fortune, which includes befriending and saving the commander of his ship, who later adopts him. Judah goes on to become a trained soldier and charioteer. In books four and five Judah returns home to Jerusalem to seek revenge and redemption for his family. After witnessing the Crucifixion, Judah recognizes that Christ's life stands for a different goal than revenge. Judah becomes Christian, inspired by love and the talk of keys to a greater kingdom than any on earth. The novel concludes with Judah's decision to finance the Catacomb of San Calixto in Rome, where Christian martyrs could be buried and venerated.〔〔Wallace, ''Ben-Hur'' (1880), p. 552.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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