Malcolm Bosse
Malcolm Bosse was an American author known for his historical fiction, particularly focused on Asian settings influenced by his personal experiences. Born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Moline, Illinois, he initially pursued a career in the merchant marine, which sparked his interest in travel and diverse cultures. Following high school, Bosse served in the United States Navy during the 1950s, particularly in Vietnam. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Yale University and later completed a Master's at the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from New York University. His literary debut, *The Journey of Tao Kim Nam* (1959), was set in Vietnam, while his most notable work, *The Warlord* (1983), explores the complexities of American missionary life in 1920s China amidst political turmoil. Throughout his life, Bosse maintained an adventurous lifestyle, traveling extensively and teaching English at City College in New York. He passed away in 2002 from esophageal cancer, leaving behind a legacy that reflects his deep engagement with Asian cultures.
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Subject Terms
Malcolm Bosse
Fiction Writer
- Born: May 6, 1927
- Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
- Died: May 3, 2002
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
Malcolm Bosse wrote historical fiction, much of it set in Asian countries he had visited during his service in the merchant marine. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, but spent most of his childhood in the Mississippi River town of Moline, Illinois. A foot injury is said to have diminished his athletic abilities and so prodded him toward the life of a writer. He sailed as a merchant marine after high school, returned to the United States, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Yale. He returned to Asia, Vietnam specifically, as a member of the United States Navy in the 1950’s. He also received a Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from New York University. He taught English at City College in New York and traveled to India as a Fulbright scholar.
His interest in Asian cultures formed the basis of his work. His first novel, The Journey of Tao Kim Nam (1959), was set in Vietnam, while his most famous work, The Warlord (1983), tells the story of an American missionary caught up in the fighting between Communists and Nationalists in 1920’s China.
Bosse continued his peripatetic life-style through the 1980’s and 1990’s. His friend, the New York radio interviewer Don Swaim, recalled receiving a postcard from Bosse in 1986, in which he sent greetings from Bali, Java, Sumatra, and Borneo. Bosse returned to the United States and lived for awhile in Reno and Seattle, before he died of esophagal cancer in New York in 2002. He was married three times and had two children.