By Athelia Gibbs
Special to THE DAILY

I knew very little about Genghis Khan before reading this book, only that he was a powerful Mongol leader who conquered many people. And even though I knew this was a novel, I was afraid it would be dry and boring. Boy, was I ever wrong! The author grabs you right at the beginning and you hardly want to put the book down 34 chapters later.

Author Conn Iggulden, who also has written a series of novels about the Roman emperor Julius Caesar, turns his writing to his first novel in a planned series about the life of Genghis Khan.

It starts with the birth of Genghis Khan, who was first known as Temujin. His father was the powerful ruler (or “khan”) of a Mongol tribe known as the Wolves. The novel follows him through his early life with the Wolves, then spending time with his mother’s tribe, and then living as a wanderer on the plains after he, his mother and his siblings are forced out of the tribe.

Harsh upbringing

Temujin had a harsh upbringing, but one that was more broad in scope than many born into the tribes. His experience of living with many different groups of people led him to realize that all the people of the plains were brothers. As he became the khan of a small group, he came to see the different Mongol tribes were wasting their time and efforts in fighting each other and only making small raids against the Tartars, their enemies to the North.

In a novel concept for the time, he realized that they could achieve victory over the Tartars and peaceful cooperation among themselves if they united.

Temujin also saw that the Mongol tribes and the Tartars, to some extent, were being manipulated by the powerful Chins, predecessors of modern-day Chinese.

As long as they were fighting among themselves, they were no threat to the more civilized Chins.

The book describes many of the ruthless and savage acts of the Mongol tribes, but the author makes you understand why they did such things. You empathize with the people (and especially Temujin) as they struggle to survive in a harsh and unforgiving environment.

The Mongols, the author
says, believe themselves to be related to the Native American tribes who crossed the Bering Strait.

It is interesting to note the many similarities of their two cultures. I was impressed by the author’s use of historical documents for the facts of this novel. It makes it easy to learn some history while having an enjoyable read.

The book ends as the rule of Temujin as Genghis Khan is just beginning. I look forward to reading the next novel in this series about this great leader.

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