Lew Wallace

Lew Wallace (b. 1827) is an American author, Union general, and statesman best known for penning the monumental historical adventure novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. As a multifaceted figure of the nineteenth century, he balanced a prominent military and political career with ambitious literary pursuits.

Born in Brookville, Indiana, Wallace pursued the law before serving as a volunteer soldier during the Mexican-American War. During the American Civil War, he attained the rank of major general in the Union Army, later presiding over the military commission that tried the conspirators behind the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. His distinguished public service extended into diplomacy when President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed him governor of the New Mexico Territory from 1878 to 1881.

Drawing upon his deep fascination with history, religion, and geopolitics, Wallace channeled his worldly experiences into sweeping historical fiction. His writing combined meticulous research with grand narrative scope, capturing the imaginations of Victorian readers and securing his enduring place in American literary history.

Essential Reading

• Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880): This epic tale of betrayal, redemption, and faith in Roman-era Judea became one of the best-selling novels of the nineteenth century.
• The Prince of India (1893): This sprawling historical epic follows the Wandering Jew through the tumultuous fall of Constantinople and the Ottoman Empire.
• The Fair God (1873): This dramatic historical novel explores the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire through a rich tapestry of cultural conflict and romance.