A copy of the book Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, by Lew Wallace, that belonged to Francis Gary Powers. This version is a hard cover published by Harper & Brothers Publishers in 1901. The cover is dark green with the title, in gold, centered in a diamond and surrounded by a stylized natural design. Book measures 7.5 x 5.5'' and has heavy signs of use, with yellowing of the pages and wearing and stains on cover. "Gary" is written in pencil, in cursive, on the corner of the last page.

This book was one of Powers' few possessions while he was in jail. As expressed in the letters to his wife, Powers asked her to limit the packages she sent, as he did not have much space. However, this book was important to him and one he thoroughly enjoyed reading during his time in Vladimir Central Prison.

Ben-Hur is a religious tale of a Jewish hero named Judah Ben-Hur. He is falsely accused of an assassination attempt and enslaved by the Romans. While at first his goal is revenge, he undergoes a transformation throughout the book, particularly after seeing the Crucifixion, and his desire for revenge turns to an understanding of the need for compassion and forgiveness. This tale must have heavily resonated with Powers.

Francis Gary Powers was a distinguished pilot for the CIA's U-2 program during the height of the Cold War. Powers was arrested after his spy plane was shot down while flying a high-risk reconnaissance mission over Soviet airspace. To learn more about Powers' astounding story of survival, please visit www.guernseys.com

These items provided directly by Mr. Powers' son, Francis Gary Powers Jr.

Worn, acceptable condition.