...This sweeping historic epic of the early Christian era was first published in 1880 and sold 2,000,000 copies. This famous out-of-print edition is profusely illustrated with virtually a picture on every page... The exciting adventures of Judah Ben-Hur, a young aristocratic Jew, have captivated generations of readers... Lewis Wallace, a man of many talents, wrote the book while he was governor of New Mexico, Wallace was inspired by Robert Ingersoll, the famous freethinker, to study the life and times of Jesus... The novel opens with the mysterious meeting in the desert of the three Wise Men - Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar - on their way to see the Christ child. The familiar story of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and the visitation by the angel Gabriel to the shepherds is related in a suspenseful, realistic way... Then the scene changes and we meet the young Ben-Hur...