We are very pleased to be giving away two copies of Don E. McGregor’s book ‘Octavian’s Light’, to our GrownUps members.
All you need to do to enter the draw is be a GrownUps member, make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter and fill in your details near the bottom of the page!
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About Octavian’s Light
Passion, power, betrayal and love, Octavian’s Light is a compelling saga set in the most brutal of Roman times.
Oline’s life is shattered when her home village in Gaul is raided by Romans, and her daughter Mischella is born into slavery in Italy.
Octavian is unexpectedly adopted by Julius Caesar whose sudden assassination catapults the eighteen-year-old to vast wealth and power, eventually becoming Rome’s first emperor, Augustus. There are wars, plotting amongst rivals, bouts of sickness, his wife Livia’s scheming, and an extraordinary meeting with Queen Cleopatra.
Former street urchin Riccar has a skill that enables him to closely witness Octavian’s incredible rise throughout their long lives together, and he becomes perhaps the emperor’s only true friend.
An ancient world is revealed as the lives of slaves and an emperor unexpectedly intertwine in a novel that combines meticulously researched history and unforgettable characters.
Author Note
‘I have always been fascinated by ancient history and the Romans in particular. They left so much behind; physically, but also many ideas, outlooks and concepts we use today. So much of our modern world has been influenced by Rome, a surprising number of words we use in English come from Latin, in many areas such as justice, education, medicine, government etc. To understand our world, we should know and understand their world.
During my very extensive travels I have been always impressed with Roman ruins, the extent, and enduring qualities of these. A surprising number have survived around two thousand years. I have always wondered about the lives of the people who planned and built these – the workers, craftsmen and engineers and their partners – but above all, the social system that provided the necessary background, engineering know-how, social stability and economics that enabled their construction. The sheer amount of human effort required is mind-boggling to us machine and computer supported moderns!
When one considers how incredibly clumsy and slow transport and general communication was in those times, they certainly impacted their known world. Octavian’s Light explains, in an easily readable way, the somewhat arrogant, can-do attitude of the Romans. They prided themselves on getting things done, regardless of human suffering at times.
The parallels with our modern world are so vast, they are quite disturbing: extreme militarism, immigration, multi-cultural populations, income inequality, inflation, corruption, fake news, slavery, exploitation, overcrowding, political instability, religious persecution……the list goes on and on. Their civilization lasted a thousand or so years long. How long will ours last?’
About the Author
Don E. McGregor is a retired international school principal from New Zealand, now writing full-time. He lived and worked in China for seven years, as well as in New Zealand, the South Pacific, Scandinavia and the Middle East.
Don enjoys international news, foreign travel and reading, especially history, and singing and playing his guitars. An ex-member of an Irish folk band, he appreciates all music in general. He has cruised locally and in Australia after completing a solo crossing of the Tasman Sea in his yacht, some years back. A former pilot, he is very interested in all aspects of aviation. Don lives on Great Barrier Island.
Octavian’s Light is his seventh published novel. His other titles are: Merran, A Wistful Legacy, Phin, Billionaire Phin, Aisling’s Cloud, Invasion New Zealand 1942.
Terms and conditions
- You must be a GrownUps member and receive our newsletter to be eligible to win.
- Competition closes on the 10th July 2024, winners will be notified via email by 11th July 2024.
- It is your responsibility to ensure you correctly enter a New Zealand postal address where the prize can be sent. GrownUps will not take responsibility for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.
- Winners are drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
- GrownUps employees and family are not eligible to enter.
- By entering the giveaway, you approve for GrownUps to use your name on social media as winner of the competition.
- One entry per household.
- Prize in non transferrable.
- You must reside in New Zealand – the prize can only be redeemed within New Zealand.
- You must be over 50 years of age to enter, please check your details are correct in your membership dashboard.
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