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Bruce MacBain

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Bruce MacBain

Goodreads Author


Born
in Chicago, The United States
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Influences
Charles Dickens, Robt. Louis Stevenson, Patrick O'Brien, George Macdon ...more

Member Since
January 2010


From boyhood, Bruce Macbain spent his days in reading history and historical fiction. The Greeks and Romans have held a special fascination for him and this led to earning a master’s degree in Classical Studies and a doctorate in Ancient History. Along the way, he also taught English as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Borneo. Later, he taught courses in Greek and Roman civilization at Vanderbilt University and Boston University, and published a few dense scholarly monographs, read by very few. Recently, he has turned to writing fiction, a much more congenial pursuit. He has previously published two historical mysteries set in ancient Rome, Roman Games and its sequel, The Bull Slayer. Now, he has turned his attention to his other favorite folk, t ...more

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Bruce MacBain The main sources are the Icelandic sagas, both the family sagas like "Njal's Saga" and the historical ones like "King Olaf's Saga". These are availabl…moreThe main sources are the Icelandic sagas, both the family sagas like "Njal's Saga" and the historical ones like "King Olaf's Saga". These are available in many English translations both in print and online, where you can read them for free. Of the many secondary works I consulted, I recommend most highly "Viking Age Iceland" by Jesse Byock.
I'm glad you're enjoying the book; I look forward to your review.
Bruce(less)
Bruce MacBain You set your own hours. You answer to no one but yourself. You work darned hard but, at the end, you've created something you can be proud of; there's…moreYou set your own hours. You answer to no one but yourself. You work darned hard but, at the end, you've created something you can be proud of; there's no better feeling.(less)
Average rating: 3.68 · 685 ratings · 119 reviews · 9 distinct worksSimilar authors
Roman Games: A Plinius Secu...

3.62 avg rating — 466 ratings — published 2010 — 27 editions
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The Bull Slayer (Plinius Se...

3.67 avg rating — 132 ratings — published 2013 — 24 editions
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Odin's Child (Odd Tangle-Ha...

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 39 ratings — published 2015 — 5 editions
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Ice Queen (Odd Tangle-Hair ...

4.04 avg rating — 24 ratings5 editions
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The Varangian (Odd Tangle-H...

4.14 avg rating — 21 ratings — published 2016 — 3 editions
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3 Great Historical Mysterie...

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4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2013 — 7 editions
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Prodigy And Expiation: A St...

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1982
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The Varangian: Book Three o...

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I pilastri di Roma (eNewton...

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Need advice? Ask a Viking



In Odin’s Child (Chapter 13) young Odd Tangle-Hair and his friend Kalf Slender-Leg leave Iceland to go a-viking with a rag-tag crew in a stolen ship. Odd has lain hidden for many weeks in the house of Kalf’s grandfather, Hoskuld Long-Jaws. The half-blind old man is loath to let his grandson go on this mad adventure with Odd but Kalf insists: it is time for him to become a man. Finally, as he a Read more of this blog post »
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Published on July 04, 2015 11:22
Roman Games: A Plinius Secu... The Bull Slayer
(2 books)
by
3.63 avg rating — 598 ratings

Odin's Child Ice Queen The Varangian
(3 books)
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4.05 avg rating — 84 ratings

Quotes by Bruce MacBain  (?)
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“scent of his perfume filled the little room. He waved the poet to a chair as slaves came in bearing wine”
Bruce MacBain, Roman Games

Topics Mentioning This Author

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The History Book ...: VICKI'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2012 101 166 Jan 04, 2013 01:41PM  
The Seasonal Read...: This topic has been closed to new comments. Winter Challenge 2013: Completed Tasks (Do Not Delete Posts) 2511 639 Feb 28, 2014 09:00PM  
The History Book ...: VICKI'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2014 90 162 Dec 31, 2014 09:48PM  
Historical Fictio...: Roman Historical fiction 131 592 Jan 18, 2016 02:03PM  
English Translati...: October 2016 read-along 7 48 Oct 20, 2016 09:22AM  
A Million More Pages: Follow the White Rabbit 179 200 Feb 28, 2018 08:43PM  
A Million More Pages: February Cover Hunt 116 145 Mar 03, 2018 05:15AM  
54239 Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction — 5762 members — last activity Mar 24, 2023 09:32AM
The focus of this group is historical fiction set in Ancient and Medieval eras(with some post Medieval), in any geographical location. Preference is g ...more
19126 The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group — 25108 members — last activity 50 minutes ago
“It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled across the sky. Rain spattered a mysterious, hooded stranger who peered over th ...more
25x33 Brookline scribes — 6 members — last activity Jan 04, 2010 12:51PM
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Tips from authors for authors. List what works for you and what hasn't. Whether you're selling a few author copies or just trying to get your name out ...more
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...July 25, 2012 to August 24, 2012...
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Comments (showing 1-2)    post a comment »
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message 2: by Stacy

Stacy Juba Hi Bruce, Thanks for the friend invite. Your novel sounds intriguing! My book is set in the present, but incorporate some ancient Roman and Greek mythology. Best of luck with it.

Stacy

Stacy Juba
Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, Now Available
Sink or Swim, Coming in December 2010
http://www.stacyjuba.com



message 1: by Beth

Beth Hi Bruce,
Thanks for befriending this mystery author on Goodreads as well as elsewhere! I hope you'll put my books, A Real Basket Case and To Hell in a Handbasket, on your to-read list. If you'd like to enter a contest for a free copy of To Hell in a Handbasket, sign up for my email newsletter at: http://bethgroundwater.com/ .
- Beth


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