Ben Pastor is the pseudonym of Maria Verbena Volpi, an Italian author renowned for her historical fiction and mystery novels. She is best known for the Martin Bora series, which features a German officer-investigator as its protagonist. Pastor was born in Rome and spent three decades living in the United States, where she worked as a university professor. Despite writing in English, her novels have been translated and published in several countries, including Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Pastor's writing career took off in 2000 with the publication of her first book, Lumen, which introduced the world to her signature character, Martin Bora. Bora is a complex and tormented figure, inspired by Claus von Stauffenberg, who attempted to assassinate Hitler in 1944. Pastor's series of novels follows Bora's military career and his experiences during World War II in Ukraine, Italy, and Poland.
In addition to the Martin Bora series, Pastor has also written other book series, including Aelius Spartianus and Solomon Meisl. She has received critical acclaim for her work, including winning the prestigious Premio Zaragoza for best historical fiction in 2008. Pastor's writing is set in various historical periods, including Roman times, and she has published several novels in this setting. Despite her extensive travels and time spent living abroad, Pastor currently resides in her native Italy, where she continues to write and research for her novels.