About The Author

Bruce Westrate is a small-town boy at heart, raised in rural southwestern Michigan—the same landscape that forms the backdrop of Altar of Ashes. Growing up in a family of six children, he spent much of his childhood working on the family farm, cultivating row crops and Christmas trees, while nurturing a lifelong fascination with history. After high school, Bruce attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, earning three degrees in History, including an M.A. in 1976 and a Ph.D. in 1982. His doctoral research focused on the Arab Bureau, the Cairo intelligence unit that guided the Arab Revolt during World War I, of which T.E. Lawrence— “Lawrence of Arabia”—was a key member. His scholarship has taken him to Oxford, Durham, London, and archives across the UK and India, and his first book, published by Penn State Press in 1992, received glowing international reviews.

Alongside his academic work, Bruce maintained his family farm, growing thousands of
Christmas trees across hundreds of acres, a solitary work that allowed ample time for reflection and imagination. His interest in history, ethics, and the moral questions of society inspired him to explore these themes in fiction. Altar of Ashes was sparked by his reflections on contemporary American culture, particularly debates around multiculturalism, and draws inspiration from historical events such as the British abolition of sati in India. In 2003, Bruce became Master Teacher of the Humanities at St. Mark’s School of Texas, where he has taught history for over two decades. During this time, he completed Altar of Ashes, navigating a long path to publication before the book was finally released under its current title. Bruce lives in Dallas with his wife, Sally, and continues to spend summers at his Michigan farmhouse. They have two grown children: Molly, a publicist, and Nicholas, a Juilliard graduate
and professional performer. A British Imperial historian by training and a storyteller at heart, Bruce Westrate brings his deep knowledge of history, law, and human complexity to the dramatic, morally resonant world of Altar of Ashes.