![]() | Bigger than Ben-Hur: The Book, Its Adaptations, and Their Audiences Subjects: Wallace Lew 1827–1905. Ben-Hur; Christianity in literature; Wallace Lew 1827–1905 -- Film adaptations; Ben-Hur (Motion picture : 1925); Ben-Hur (Motion picture : 1959); Christianity in motion pictures; Motion pictures and literature; Historical films; First published in 1880, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ became a best-seller. The popular novel spawned an 1899 stage adaptation, reaching audiences of over 10 million, and two highly successful film adaptations. For over a century, it has become a ubiquitous pop cultural presence, representing a deeply powerful story and monumental experience for some and a defining work of bad taste and false piety for others. The first and only collection of essays on this pivotal cultural icon, Bigger Than "Ben-Hur" addresses Lew Wallace's beloved classic to explore its polarizing effect and to expand the contexts within which it can be studied. Barbara Ryan is associate professor in the University Scholars Programme at the National University of Singapore. She is the author of Love, Wages, Slavery and a coeditor of Reading Acts . |
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