About this title: A master storyteller and bestselling author traces the ascent of one of the most fearsome and courageous leaders in world history, in this unforgettable portrait of Genghis Khan--a man who became one of the most ruthless conquerors in history.
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Dell
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780440243908ISBN:0440243904
Description: Good. Cover and pages may have some wear or writing. Binding is tight. We ship daily Monday-Friday. Delivery Confirmation included on all domestic orders. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Dell
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780440243908ISBN:0440243904
Description: Good. Used Condition-GOOD can be a well cared for Book that is in great condition to a Book that may show some signs of wear. GOOD Books sometimes are permanently marked; have some spine or page creases; exibit signs of aging or an ExLibrary copy. ** Sometimes grease pencil or permanent marking on cover. May contain limited notes and or highlighting. 100% Satisfaction guaranteed on all purchases. ** SHIPS FROM USA-Domestic Delivery takes 5-14 days ** read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Dell
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780440243908ISBN:0440243904
Description: Good. Clean pages good condition overall sharp corners tight spine All new inventory received to basement All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Your purchase supports More Than Words, a nonprofit job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. read more
Description: Satisfaction Guaranteed. Shipped quickly. 2008. Mass Market Paperback. Used, good. : Good overall with moderate wear. No dust jacket. read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Date Published: 5/1/2007
ISBN-13:9780385339513ISBN:0385339518
Description: Good. 0385339518 Ex-library book with usual markings. Clean text. SATISF GNTD + SHIPS W/IN 24 HRS. Ships in a padded envelope with free tracking. 13, 839. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Dell
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780440243908ISBN:0440243904
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Edition: Reprint
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Random House
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780440243908ISBN:0440243904
Description: New. He was born Temujin, the son of a khan, raised in a clan of hunters migrating across the rugged steppe. Temujin's young life was shaped by a series of brutal acts: the betrayal of his father by a neighboring tribe and the abandonment of his entire fa... read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Delacorte Press, New York
Date Published: May 1, 2007
ISBN-13:9780385339513ISBN:0385339518
Description: Near Fine in Near Fine jacket. 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches. BCE. Hardbound with dust jacket. Pages are clean, no markings from previous owners. Boards are clean and square. Binding is tight. Faint wear to cloth at spine ends and corners. Text block is clean. DJ is clean, bright and unmarked. read more
"I know almost nothing about Genghis Khan, so the history could be totally made up for all I know. What history there is of the Mongols is pretty sketchy for that time period, and told mostly through the perspective of their enemies. Early life of such a figure is especially difficult to research. However, I think Iggulden got the general feel of Mongol culture and I enjoyed the action. It was a very foreign feeling book- the characters thought differently and had different values than western culture. I enjoyed the mental stretch. Good fight scenes, although they were not the main thrust of the book. I would guess that as Genghis becomes more of a force in future books, we'll get more fight scenes. Fans of Bernard Cornwell should enjoy this one just fine. Great literature it is not, but it's a good story."
"Conn Iggulden provides a whirlwind tale of one of the most (in)famous conquerors in history, delving into how Temujin of the Wolves first became Genghis Kahn. Hardship, the struggle to survive, murder, the harsh life of Mongolia is written out in perfect detail.
I was a little wary when I first spotted this in my local library, but I went ahead and picked it up anyway. The first few pages or so I was also a little skeptical, but the childhood to which Temujin was born quickly sucked me in. Comingling the boyhood rivalry amongst his brothers as well as the bonds that he forges with two of his younger brothers very much engaged my attention.
The carrying of grudges is also a huge theme in this book. Temujin's grudge against the Tartars for his father's murder and the rape of his wife, his gruge against the bondsman who usurped the leadership of the Wolves, and so on. The desire to maintain honor and avenge slights were highly engrossing.
A great book to read for those who enjoy historical fiction."
I am khan of the sea of grass, and they will know me by that name, as Genghis.
Genghis Kahn was born Temujin, second son to Yesugei, the khan (or leader) of the Wolves, one of the many tribes of Mongols that at the time populated the wind-swept steppes of inland Asia. He was raised in the safety of his father's tribe until Yesugei was killed by Tartar raiders. Upon Yesugei's death, his first bondman declared himself khan and moved the tribe, leaving Temujin, then twelve, with his mother and five other siblings, unprotected in the unforgiving plains. They were expected to die that winter, but somehow Temujin and his family endured in a frozen land that gave nothing. Out of that fierce struggle for survival Temujin emerged, ruthless and unstoppable with a vision: to become the khan of all the tribes of the plains. As Temujin tells one of his brothers at the end of this, the first book in the series: "We are the silver people, the Mongols. When they ask, tell them there are no tribes. Tell them I am khan of the sea of grass, and they will know me by that name, as Genghis. Yes, tell them that. Tell them that I am Genghis and I will ride." Genghis. Birth of an Empire tells an impressive, epic story, even if the writing itself is just serviceable, and only in a couple of occasions, like the one quoted above, stands on its own. Overall the story was compelling enough to keep me reading, and the characters, especially Temujin, come alive, as does the time and the harshness of a way of life hard to imagine."
"In preparation for writing this series on the life of the great Khan, Conn Iggulden undertook to live in Mongolia for a time, and the dedication implied by this act is evident in his writing. The setting feels extremely real, and it is easy to get into the mindset of the central characters from the very beginning.
Iggulden evokes visceral reactions with well-crafted descriptions of both bleakness and beauty, of both glory and tragedy. The almost cinematic clarity of the vistas he creates is reminiscent of Wilbur Smith's ancient Egypt, and of Marion Zimmer Bradley's middle England.
A deep knowledge of the area's geography and history is required for a project of this kind, and Iggulden has that in spades. However, as with all literature of this kind, one must perforce be an aficionado of historical fiction in order to fully appreciate the work. Readers looking for a quick read on an airplane are unlikely to find it here.
Ultimately, while the book is well-written, it did not sufficiently inspire me as to read its sequel. Readers with a greater interest in this part of the world or this period in history will probably derive far more entertainment from it."
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