Customer Rating: Summary: Exciting Story of the Mongols and the early life of Genghis Khan Comment: Genghis Khan was born Temujin, son of Khan of his tribe, the Blue Wolves. Surprisingly much is known of his early life. It is known that when his father died he, his mother and siblings, were abandoned to die on the frigid Mongolian plains by the man who usurped the eldest son's claim to be Khan. This book covers about the first 20 years of Temujin's life. The most interesting, in fact the part that makes the book almost unable to be put down, is Mr Iggulden's description of the life as lived by 13th Century Mongol tribesmen. He covers every aspect of their lives, and, according to notes on the book, lived among current Mongol tribesmen for a time, and clearly researched the era and the history. Their way of life comes alive and is truly believable: The drinking of the blood of their living horses when food was scarce; and drinking of the horse's milk; the use of yoghurt as a main food source along with mutton; the use of mutton fat on their skin to help keep warm and keep the icy wind off their skin; living in Yurht (much like teepees, with holes in the top for smoke to escape); the many similarities to American Indians to whom they may be related (the Indians would have crossed the Bering Strait in prehistoric times when the ice was solid); the strong tribal structure making it nearly impossible to live alone without support.
The constant warfare between the tribes, and between the Mongols and other groups on the land such as the Tartars, an ethnically different group is described. Constant warfare and raiding, with swords, bow and arrow, knife, spear, and axe, was the way of life, and there was no concept of peace. A type of ruthlessness, somewhat based on the terrible harshness of their environment, made everyone hard and unsentimental. Mr Iggulden seems to have entered their world and their minds. Excellent book. Customer Rating: Summary: Exciting History! Comment: Never thought I would be excited by a historical fiction - my usual diet is scifi and horror. The writer has kept as close as possible to accepted history but still write a real page turner about somebody that climbs up from nothing to be a great leader and warrior.
Lots of blood and guts - brilliant! Customer Rating: Summary: Quality work for a quality subject Comment: Genghis Khan ... there was a dearth of information for the best part of 800 years on the life and times of Genghis, and what little there was was all negative. This is not because Genghis was any more barbaric than anyone else of his time, but rather since all the history available to us it was written by the conquered and threatened (Persians, Chinese and Russians mainly). Imagine for a moment if the only available history of Richard the Lionheart was written by the arabs... how would it read? Something like ... "Brutal bloodthirsty foreign conquerer comes to our world bringing nothing but death, misery and destruction - slaughtering indiscriminately". Rather different to how we look at him.
Its only since 2004 that popular writers have begun to revise the previous historical Genghis conjured up by mediaeval storytellers to deliver a far more balanced, thorough and rounded view of this towering historical figure - Time magazine's "Man of the Millennium"
By incorporating Genghis Khan into historical fiction, Iggulden has made his amazing life story available in a ripping, easy to read book, that leaves people like me missing tube stops, staying awake extra hours in bed ... all just to read a few more gripping pages. There can be little additional praise I can heap on the book - others below have all said it before me. It's simply a terrific read on a fantastic topic.
Apart from the sequels, if others are awakened to learn more about what has largely been a hidden history (until very recetly) of Genghis Khan (and find out more about the minor historical tweaks Iggulden adapted) then I would recommend the following books - all of which are well written and compelling in themselves:
- Genghis Khan (Life Death and Resurrection) - John Man, 2004
- Genghis Khan (And the Making of the Modern World) - Jack Weatherford, 2004
- Subotai the Valiant (Genghis Khan's Greatest General) - Richard Gabriel, 2004 ... this one is not as well written as the other two. but it is a very interesting topic. Oh how I wish John Man would write a book on Subedei / Subotai.
...
and if you want to spend big for the most comprehensive source ...
The Secret History of the Mongols - Igor de Rachewiltz, 2006
Customer Rating: Summary: GENGHIS ROCKS! A ROLLICKING READ Comment: "Wolf of the Plains" is a terrific, rollicking adventure story of the young Genghis Khan growing up in the dangerous, unstable world of the ancient Mongolian plains. The narrative is taut, with a series of deadly challenges to be overcome. The characterisation is excellent, with plenty of major and minor figures to grab the imagination. Best of all, the description of Genghis's world is convincing and detailed: by the end of the book it'll seem the most natural thing in the world to slit open a horse's vein for a refreshing snack. The only downside of the book is that it feels very much like the opening salvo in a multi-volume epic. About half-way through, you realise (if you didn't know this already) that it is the series, not this book, which will tell the story of Genghis Khan; and that to know what happens, you have many more volumes ahead of you. But if you're enjoying it, this will give you pleasure rather than frustration.
The treatment of the Chinese in the story is surprisingly sympathetic. Made me wonder if Iggulden has half an eye on the Chinese market.
Pro: great, sweeping, well-written adventure story. Cons: only the start of the story. Customer Rating: Summary: A Terrific Series Comment: This is a superb trilogy, very readable and probably more appealing to a male readership, with the leading characters being predominantly male and a lot of the story being about battles and "The Great Conqueror". I started to read them having watched the film 'Mongol' and I strongly recommend the film to anyone who is enjoying these books. Highly recommended.
