Genghis (The Conqueror Series)

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So here we are. Now even though I had read this book before, I only clearly remembered the first couple of chapters, in which Temujin and his brothers climb a cliff to try and capture a young eagle to give to their father. There is of course a great rivalry between the boys. They all want to be the one who actually captures one of the prized birds and earn glory in their father's eyes. Who will be the one to claim that glory? After completing the Emperor series on the life of Julius Caesar, Iggulden began research for his next series of books, based on the life of Mongol warlord Genghis Khan. In the author's note of the book, Iggulden explains he traveled to rural Mongolia during his research. I will mention one of the better aspects of Iggulden’s writing – since I do want to provide another example of the author’s skills – and that is his depiction of the ethical outlook of nomad life. There’s only one instance where I think he stumbles in this regard (Temujin’s reaction to Borte’s abduction and rape*/!); otherwise, the reader does spend a lot of time in a truly alien way of life.

The author explains in a note that his chief source of historical details largely comes from Arthur Waley’s translation of a Chinese version of “The Secret History of the Mongols”, the original Mongolian text of which was written in the 13th century, after the death of Genghis Khan. También asistimos a los problemas dinásticos a los que se enfrenta Gengis, que le llevan a nombrar heredero a su tercer hijo, Ogedai, en detrimento de los dos primeros, Jochi y Chagatai. La vida de Jochi, sus enfrentamientos con su padre y hermano y sus posterior rebelión y castigo, son una de las tramas más interesante de la serie. El castigo paterno, ante el único general que se le rebeló en su vida será implacable.His childhood experiences created the man he would become, who would not bend or allow fear or weakness in any form. He cared nothing for possessions or wealth, only that his enemies fall.” Conn Iggulden is well-known for writing historical fiction books. He was born in 1971 to an English father and an Irish mother. He attended St. Martins School located in Northwood before transferring to Merchant Taylor’s School.

This first volume of what I believe to be a trilogy tells the story of Temujin (birth name of Genghis) from his early years to the beginning of his rise to power. As good as this story was, I am confident that the next book will be even better given that it will deal with Temujin's conquest of much of Asia which should make for fascinating reading. Having crossed the desert the Mongol hordes attempt to take the kingdom of Xi Xia, the Mongols inexperience in siege craft shows when they are held at bay by the walls of Xi Xia, the division between the kingdom of Xi Xia and the Chin empire is also highlighted at this time. Eventually the Xia kingdom capitulates and Genghis wins a princess of the city as his bride as well as many other spoils of war. This was a decent work of historical fiction with a brilliantly realised setting that was ultimately let down by some pacing and characterisation issues.The Mongols, under Ghenghis, have brought the Chin Emperor to his knees. The khan then sends out armies under his generals to spread out and find new lands to conquer or trade with. During this time, a Mongol caravan was sent to a city in the Khwarezmian Empire and seized by a local governor, when Ghenghis sent ambassadors to demand their release, the ambassadors were killed. This leads to the Mongols' campaigns in the Western lands as they fight against the Arab warriors of Shah Ala-ud-Din and the eventual destruction of many famous cities including Samarkand. Temujin will take up a new name/title- Genghis. Just some historical perspective- in native mongolian there is no "k" sound. Thus "Khan" is actually "Haan", thus Genghis' grand-son Kublai Khan would actually have been "Hoop-lie Haan". Bearing this in mind, Genghis was actually "Chinggis" (meaning "Great Ocean"), or Khan of khans. One of them is a senator’s son, who has been given everything to achieve his dream. The other is an adopted child who is cunning and strong. His love for his adoptive family and brother will be the most powerful force in his life. The book certainly has plenty of endless battles and plenty and discusses war strategies. The most famous and gruesome battle, described in detail by Iggulden, is the one fought at the Badger Mouth. To combat the Mongol advance, the Chin had assembled approximately half a million soldiers (versus the Mongol's 100 thousand) and stationed them at Badger Mouth. However, the Chin appeared to have been overly confident in their numbers and mainly in their defensive position: Genghis eventually circumvented their defenses by sending part of his men over the peaks surrounding the pass, something the Chin thought impossible, allowing him to encircle the much larger army. As a result, he slaughtered thousands and the enemy’s soldiers and practically destroyed its army. The final book in the Genghis Khan saga focuses on the later years of his life and his conquest in Arab and Islamic lands. Genghis is faced with a new breed of fighter and must seek to survive fanatical jihadist fighter bent on his destruction. Unlike his earlier conquests, he could not simple integrate his new enemy into his own nation. Unlike previous novels, there is substantial focus on the brothers and sons of Genghis. We get to see the men the have all become and their own abilities is war and leadership.

En las inmensas estepas que se extienden al norte de China, habitan una serie de tribus de vida nómada, agrupadas en dos etnias principales: mongoles y tártaros. Estas tribus llevan siglos enfrentadas entre si, peleando, sometiendo y siendo sometidas a continuos ataques y razzias por parte de sus vecinos, lo cual, junto con las duras condiciones de vida de la estepa, ha impedido durante siglos la consolidación de estos pueblos como naciones más o menos organizadas, así como su crecimiento demográfico y el desarrollo de su potencial militar. Quizá estas luchas fratricidas hayan estado financiadas y favorecidas durante siglos por los gobernantes chinos, siempre obsesionados por la protección de su frontera norte frente a las invasiones de estos pueblos. Uživao sam čitajući Igguldenov serijal Imperator o usponu i padu Julija Cezara, a i zaželio sam se malo akcijskih povijesnih romana, pa sam krenuo čitati ovaj serijal.

No estamos ante una obra maestra, pero cumple sobradamente. No es fácil desarrollar los primeros momentos de la vida, la evolución personal y política de uno de los personajes más importantes de la Historia. Tampoco el contexto social y la forma de vida de la sociedad mongola de la época, aunque ayuda que en muchos aspectos es una cultura que ha permanecido inamovible desde los años de Gengis. Se nota el conocimiento del autor, que convivió durante un tiempo con los mongoles para empaparse de sus costumbres. 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.” Find sources: "Conqueror"novel series– news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR ( February 2016) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Iggulden released a four-book series, the Wars of the Roses, [7] starting with Stormbird in 2013, Margaret of Anjou [8] (called Trinity in the UK) in 2014, Bloodline [9] in 2015, and Ravenspur [10] in 2016. Johnson, Ani (May 2017). "Dunstan: One Man Will Change the Fate of England by Conn Iggulden". thebookbag.co.uk . Retrieved 19 April 2018.

a b Sale, Jonathan (14 October 2009). "Passed/Failed: An education in the life of author Conn Iggulden". The Independent . Retrieved 19 April 2018. Note: Yuan Dynasty is the Chinese term for the Mongol Empire, or at least the part of it which was set on Chinese homesoil. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. In addition to differences to some names of characters and tribes, some major inaccuracies include: Borte was captured by the Merkit tribe, not the Tartars; and she was held captive for several months, rather than a few weeks; Temujin's childhood enslavement by the Ta'yichiut, also lasting several months, is not described; however, some elements of his escape (being liberated by a sympathetic member of the capturing tribe, but then returning to their home to hide) is incorporated into the fictional account of his capture by the "Wolves"; Temujin's childhood friend, blood-brother, and major rival Jamuka is excluded from the story; the relationship between Temujin and Toghrul is simplified: it is not mentioned that he and Yesugei were Anda and the omission of the influence Toghrul's son Senggum had on their relationship; and the influence of the Chin emissary is entirely fictional. Džingis-kan je postao sinonim za pljačku i uništenje. U jednom interviju se Iggulden našalio da nije bio dobar čak ni prema svojim psima.

In this novel, I like how Genghis' many flaws are being highlighted ---for example, the massacres, the massacres! I can't believe I'm saying this but I really had enough of mass killing when I went through this book! Temujin, the son of Yesugei, khan of the Wolves, goes to a neighboring tribe to find a wife. While he's away, his father is murdered by a gang of Tartars. Worse still, his father's friend usurps the role of khan and leaves Temujin and his family to die on the steppe. Can Temujin and his family survive long enough to get revenge on the Tartars and regain control of the Wolves?