Lew Wallace (1827-1905) was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, politician, diplomat and author, best known for his historical adventure story, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, a bestselling novel that has been called "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century." He wrote several historical novels and biographies of American generals. The Wooing of Malkatoon is a narrative poem about young Othman who explores secrets of love and women. Commodus: A Historical Play is a tragic play about the Roman Emperor Commodus and Maternus, soldier of a daring boldness, who collected bands of robbers into a little army in order to murder Commodus and to ascend the vacant throne.