the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Lew Wallace : Ben-Hur, A Tale of the Christ

'My dear General Wallace, -- I sat up the night before last to finish your beautiful book, and I assure you I find it difficult to express my admiration of it. It is wonderful how you have interwoven the sacred elements of the story with the human interest.'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Earl Dufferin      Print: Book

Lew Wallace : Ben Hur

Transcript of interview: 'He [her father] gave me a copy of Lou Wallis's Ben Hur in a slip case and I put in my diary which you’ll find there [points to MS diary] that I was very much enjoying it but that was completely untrue – I only read the first few pages and just couldn’t get into it and it was still in its slip case when I think I gave it to a charity shop not very long ago!'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Hilary Spalding      Print: Book

Lew Wallace : Ben-Hur

'I cannot resist the desire to thank you for one of the finest & loftiest works of historical imagination I have ever read.'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Henry E. Card (?)      Print: Book

Lew Wallace : Ben-Hur

'Pray make what use you like of the letter I wrote regarding Ben-Hur, to Lady Eardley. Few books that I have read have given me greater pleasure and I thoroughly appreciate the high and noble purpose which has evidently directed its composition. I look forward to reading it again one of these days and I am glad to tell you that others who have read it on my recommendation have been as delighted with it as myself.'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: John Vertue      Print: Book

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