Customer Reviews

Genghis : Birth of an Empire

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4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Published as 'Wolf of the Plains' in Australia, this is an action-packed story of Temujin-Uge and his making as Ghengis Khan. Conn Iggulden advises that he used an English translation (from Chinese) of 'The Secret History of the Mongols' as his chief source.

Mongolia was, and remains, a harsh place. Genghis Khan forged an empire by uniting Mongol tribes. This novel is about the boy who became the man, and the vision and blood debts that motivated and sustained him.

No doubt, some readers will find the story brutal. It is. But at the same time, it creates a wonderful backdrop against which to view the emergence of the Mongol empire. In short, it brings the figure of Genghis Khan to life.

I understand that this is the first of a series on Genghis Khan and his descendants. I look forward to reading the next book.

'Tell them that I am Genghis and I will ride'

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Life on the steppes of northeastern Asia in the 13th Century was tough. On a backdrop of endless frozen tundra traveled by fierce Nomadic tribes, Conn Iggulden winds an entirely engrossing saga of Temujin, the son of a local warlord, who is destined to become the legendary conqueror and scourge of the west, Genghis Khan.

Following the death of his father, twelve-year old Temujin, his mother, Hoelun, brothers, and infant sister are cast out by the treacherous new leader of his native Blue Wolf tribe, left on Mongolia's barren plains without food, shelter, or weapons with winter approaching. Through Hoelin's ingenuity and sheer determination, the family survives against all odds, strengthening Temujin's already-iron will and igniting the spark of vengeance in him and his brothers. Iggulden follows up with a swashbuckling drama of cliffhangers and suspense as gripping, and certainly more bloody, than the best pop thrillers. Told at a lively pace without unnecessary baggage as Temujin, now merely eighteen, succeeds in uniting the disparate and warring Mongol tribes to stand down the Tartar raiders from the north.

"Genghis: Birth of an Empire", is one of those rare gems of historical fiction that is as entertaining as it is illuminating and educational. The research was exceptional, from Mongol "sky burials", to a uniquely brutal brand of cannibalism, to the life the northern Asian warrior's life on steppes - able to survive for days on end using their ponies not only for transportation, but also by tapping into a vein for sustenance. Since the details of Genghis Khan's childhood are sketchy at best, my initial assumption was that most of the author's content was speculation, heavily embellished to maintain a lively pace and hold reader interest. To my surprise, further checking confirmed the basics of the young khan's early days as depicted here, while not without some well placed poetic license, sticks closely to the facts as recorded, painting a vivid and noble portrait of the young general.

In short, authoritative and inspirational, told in light and easy prose; a fun read well worth the time, and a worthy opening to the epic of Genghis Khan that Iggulden will clearly be continuing in subsequent volumes. I'm looking forward to the encore.

Conn Iggulden's "Emperor" series was a fun, a-historical take on the life of Julius Caesar and his best friend, Brutus. Iggulden did not attempt to write a series that closely tracked the historical narrative (that's been done many times over, and Iggulden wasn't about to try to replace Colleen McCullough's "Masters of Rome" series). Historical liberties aside, Iggulden's take on Caesar was fun and action-packed.

"Genghis: Birth of an Empire" appears to follow the same track. "Gates of Rome," the first novel in the "Emperor" series, used less-famous personal names for Caesar and Brutus in order to obscure their identities while they were children. Iggulden does the same here, as the boy that will grow to become "Genghis" is named Temujin. He is the second oldest of five brothers, all sons to Yesugai, Khan of the Wolves. Born with a blood clot in his palm - a dire omen - Temujin will become one of the world's great conquerors.

But first he must survive his youth, which is a difficult struggle. Iggulden has spent his time in Mongolia, and it shows. The strengths of "Genghis" lie in Iggulden's depiction of the harsh Mongolian landscape and the life scraped out by its inhabitants. Iggulden uses several Mongol terms without definition, such as "ger," "deel," and the like, but it's pretty easy to figure out what is going on. Telling details like having one's hair frozen to the ground while sleeping transport the reader to the life-or-death edge that Temujin and his family live on most of their lives.

Temujin begins his life as the favored son of a brave military man. But intrigue rears its ugly head, and before Temujin realizes it, he and his family are cast out and left to die on the steppe without so much as a bow or sword. In addition to the brutal winter, Temujin is also hunted by his former clansmen as well as the hated Tartars. But that which does not kill us makes us stronger - and Temujin emerges as hard as iron to reclaim his family's rightful station . . . and then some!

This is a strong, entertaining novel. I don't know nearly as much about Genghis Khan as I do about Julius Caesar, so I am not able to quibble with Iggulden's historical fidelity. But I don't think that is one of Iggulden's primary goals - he seems more focused on good storytelling, and he excels at it.

My only significant problem with "Genghis" is that there is so little attention paid to the bond between man and horse. The Mongols are still a horse culture to this day, and Iggulden professes in his Afterword that the Mongols adore their ponies. So why is there not one scene of a single Mongol bonding with a horse? There is basically no attention paid to life on horseback - the horses in the book merely serve as mounts and as the occasional source of nourishment. This seems to be an odd omission for a book about the Mongols.

But for whatever faults it may have, "Genghis" is an exciting read. Iggulden writes a good battle scene, and he convincingly conveys the misery that formed much of Temujin's youth. I will definitely read the next volume in this series, and look forward to it eagerly.

Although this book gallops along at Conn Iggulden's usual pace, I was continually tempted to leap ahead to find out what happened next. That makes it much more of a chapter-turner than merely a page-turner, and the narrative left me quite breathless at times!

Temujin is the son of the khan of one of the many Mongol tribes who are in continual, violent conflict. Without spoiling the story for you, his circumstances force him to grow up very quickly rather than lose his life. As the story unfolds, Temujin faces death many times and learns from his terrifying experiences. His list of those on whom he determines to wreak revenge grows as you read. Eventually, he becomes the respected, feared and uncompromising leader of the great horde which dominated two continents during that age.

Had his childhood been easy, he would probably have settled down with a couple of wives and a few goats. Historic record shows otherwise, but that record hardly brings Ghengis Khan's tale to life in the way that Iggulden has managed in this book.

I would recommend this book to anybody, and would challenge them to resist being swept along by such a brilliantly told story. I just can't wait to get my hands on the next episode, "Lords of the Bow," in January 2008.

While a very good action novel and fitting in quite well - for the most part - with the historical facts known about Jenghiz, there are a number of historical fictions taken. The author himself admits as much in his comments at the end of the book (i.e., taking liberty at changing certain facts around, adding certain "extras" in, etc.).

The aspects that relate to the Great Khan's early life and personal aspects can be forgiven in the nature of the author providing "extra drama" to particular aspects of the story (for example, having the Tatars capture his wife and then her fairly immediate rescue when in fact it was a different Mongol tribe that captured her and actually held her for months).

But the part that I could not forgive dealt with the Mongols being portrayed as inferior warriors - even Jeghiz himself - to the Chins and the statements (and stronger inferences) that the Mongols learned their strategical, operational and tactical "secrets" from the Chins (i.e., Chinese). What total nonsense. I suggest that the reader obtain and read "Genghis Khan's Greatest General: Subotai The Valiant" to learn the real facts in that regard. Specifically the chapters on "The Mongol War Machine", "The Mongol Military Legacy" and "The Lessons of Mongol Warfare".

Equally ridiculous was the Mongols adopting heavy armor from the Chins - especially at that early a time period in the maturing of Jeghiz and the building of his empire. Specifically by being less heavily armored (even with his heavy cavalry which comprised 60% of his force normally - the other 40% being light cavalry)....

Some quotes from the above mentioned book:

" Metal scale armor and chain mail were introduced to the Mongol armies only AFTER their wars with the Chinese and the West"... BTW, Mongols used composite recurved bows with an average pull of 160-lbs (...renowned for its power, accuracy and range. Mongol bows are still used in Siberia and were common in the early 20th century.)... compare this with the English longbows of which the British Long Bow Society, estimates the bows of the Medieval period drew between 90 and 110 pounds, maximum (with most averaging 70 - 90 lbs). And yet the Mongol arrows - driven by 160-lb draw force - bounced off of inferior scale iron Chin armor while arrows from English longbows (driven at less force) readily penetrated full-sheet steel armor worn by French knights at battle of Crecy in 1346 and later at the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years' War??? Give me a break. There is no historical references to Mongol archers having any difficulty with penetrating "Chin armor". ("...A 150lb bow, shooting a 900 grain arrow, would impart about 1157J of kinetic energy, nearly three times the energy as the former bow. Plenty sufficient to punch a hole in even tempered steel armour."... so much for primitive Chin scale iron armor).

Additionally, the Mongols (until later adopting chain mail armor primarily in the heavy cavalry units) wore lacquered leather "armor" along with padded overcoats. After the war with the Hsi-Hsia the Mongols did adopt the silk undershirt worn by the Hsi-Hsia and the Chins. ("After the first war with the his-Hsia - 1207 - Genghis adopted the silk undershirt for his troops..."

Also, much mention is made of the sword as a mystical personal weapon of the Mongols. The author clearly does not know his historical facts. Mongols consistently considered the sword as a secondary weapon. The primary weapons for the heavy cavalry was the bow and - for impact charges - the lance. The sword was strictly a secondary consideration for use once the lance was lost or shattered. The light cavalry's primary weapon was the bow with the sword basically relegated to being used to slaughtering enemy forces once they were routed and fleeing the field of battle.

Also the author makes much of Genghis (and other top notch Mongol archers) making sure to release their arrows (when on horseback) when all four of the horse's hooves were on the ground... yet the truth: " ...and were trained to release their arrows when the hooves of the horse were all simultaneously OFF the ground"! How about some accuracy here as to weaponry, armor, individual capabilities, etc.?

Grand strategy, Operational strategy, and Tactics? I wouldn't know where to start... according to the book it's a good thing that Jenghiz was exposed to the expertise of the Chin Master Warrior when he was or there probably would never have been a Mongolian Empire (sarcasm).

Well, rather than go on and on, let's just return to recommending that the reader - and this author - read the book mentioned above.

And finally, the book mentions his father (whose real name was Jarchigudai - and who was purely an ironsmith, not also some elite warrior swordsman) and Jelme, his brother, but makes no mention whatsoever of Subutai. As they joined Jenghiz (still then Temujin) it was 1187 and Subutai was ten years old. (By the way these individuals were NOT Mongols but were Uriangkhai, one of the forest people tribes that lived as non nomads in the forested mountains north of the Mongols).

Subutai was 10 years old when Jelme joined with Temujin in 1187 (the father returned to his forest village after delivering Jelme to Temujin). At age just under 14 (1190 - 1191 AD) Subutai also joined Temujin's forces. This was clearly within the scope of the era of this book (Temujin being declared khan of the united tribes, thereby Genghis (Jenghiz) Khan, much later, in 1206). Historically, Subutai was very much a part of Temujin's efforts to unite all the tribes of th Mongols and create a national fighting force.

In that note, I find it interesting that there's no mention of Subutai at all! This from the primary general who would go on to win major xbattles, campaigns and wars for Jenghiz (as the Great Khan, Jenghiz - beyond that time - did not directly participate in campaigning but remained at home running things administratively - like our president would). Subotai went on to "conquer 32 nations and win 65 pitched battles" (almost all of which his forces were outnumbered - sometimes greatly outnumbered), all for Jenghiz and the Mongols, but curiously unmentioned by this author.

Hopefully this will become a series (such as the "Emperor Series") and hopefully the author will manage to work in more historically accurate facts - and give Subutai (also spelled some sources as Subotai) the field credit that he deserves!

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 time 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 so difficult to live alone for even a strong family such as Temujin and his mother and siblings had. The constant warfare between the tribes, and between the Mongols and other groups on the land such as the Tartars, an ethnically different group. Constant warfare and raiding, with swords, bow and arrow, knife, spear, and axe, was the way of life, and there was no idea 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.

I've read the entire Ghengis series by Conn Iggulden and enjoyed every one of them thoroughly.

However, Iggulden takes serious liberties with his history, which I find sometimes astonishing. If you read, for example, Ascent: The Rise of Chinggis Khan (Heaven's Favorite) you'll find major, material differences in the history (although this book mentioned is not nearly as well written as Iggulden's).

I truly am baffled as to why Iggulden takes so much liberty with the history. The real history actually makes more sense and is just as entertaining, if not more entertaining!

Big deal? Perhaps not. I enjoyed the heck out of these books, but just realize you are not getting real history here. You are getting a story that has a few facts but mostly fiction.

Other issues are context -- it's difficult to understand Iggulden's Khan books sometimes, because he glosses over important historical context in the interest of keeping the plot moving. For example, there were tremendously interesting dynamics between the Tartars, the Xiaxing dynasty and the Jin (Jurchen) dynasty which would have made Khan's motives make so much more sense. Never is it mentioned that Khan was the great-grandson of Khabul Khan (the first "Khan" to unite the tribes years before Ghengis), a critical piece of history which explained much of Ghengis' legitimacy in bringing the tribes together.

In addition, he introduces words and concepts that are simply unknown to most western readers, without any explanation. As an example, he speaks of "sprinkling airag", but does not explain that this is a key ritual when drinking this fermented milk, involving sprinkling it in the four directions of the earth, to the sky and the ground. A minor issue, perhaps, but something that would have been helpful in understanding the cultural dynamics of the tribes.

In short, prepare yourself for a fun, entertaining read, but just realize that Iggulden is writing fiction with a few facts. If you're ok with that, buy the book. And I've pre-ordered his next book on Kublai, so I'm certainly still a reader.

I also read this in its original launch avatar as Wolf of the Plains in Singapore. It is simply a brilliant book- but then, for anyone who has read his Emperor series, this is what one has come to expect of this author. I really look forward to the rest of the series.

AMAZING book. a very fast and exciting read. i can't wait for the sequel to come out. So much so that i ordered it from the UK (it came out this month, while we have to wait until the end of March to buy it in the US).

I bought this in England three months ago, where it is also (like Australia) known as The Wolf of the Plains. Fast moving, accessible novelization of the early life of Genghis. Admirers of Iggulden's "Julius Caesar" series will enjoy the style, and recognize a similar broad structure of the book - the childhood and coming-of-age of the future warrior/king, the early training, the devastating hardships that create the man to be. The overarching cultural background is portrayed well - though I don't know enough to vouch for its accuracy - the characters are all credible, and well developed. The book certainly leaves the reader looking forward to the next installment.