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Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror 1) | 
 enlarge | Author: Conn Iggulden
Creators: John Nicholl, Jason Isaacs
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £15.99
Buy New: £9.75
You Save: £6.24 (39%)
New (4) Used (3) Collectible (1) from £4.37
Rating:  42 reviews
Sales Rank: 32221
Format: Abridged, Audiobook, Cd
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Abridged edition
Number Of Items: 5
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 1
ISBN: 0007216785
EAN: 9780007216789
ASIN: 0007216785
Publication Date: January 3, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New. Shipped from UK Mainland. Delivery is usually 3 - 4 working days from order by Royal Mail, International Delivery is by Airmail.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 37 more reviews...
 Quality work for a quality subject December 4, 2008
Roger Mellie (BBC)
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 mediaevil 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
...
and if you want to spend big for the most comprehensive source ...
The Secret History of the Mongols - Igor de Rachewiltz, 2006
GENGHIS ROCKS! A ROLLICKING READ December 4, 2008
100wordreviewer (Kiev)
"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.
A Terrific Series November 9, 2008
R. Llewellyn (Anglesey. Wales)
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.
Fierce and Compelling. November 9, 2008
M. Shepherd (Hertfordshire)
This booked grips you from start to finish. The fast paced action is tempered with gritty realism- testament to to how well Iggulden knows his material and his craft.
Whilst comparissons with Bernard Cornwell's historical fiction are inevitable, Iggulden's character driven writing is harsh and true, in many ways more honest than the sometimes likeably roguish nature of Cornwell's writing. It is utterly refreshing to read of a character such as Temujin, so clearly a product of the plains, rather than the product of a more modern concept of a hero. The young Khan's thoughts and actions are vastly different from modern ethical thinking- his personality is never compromised.
The action and pace of the story, the vivid landscapes and the sympathy with which Iggulden treats the Mongol tribes leads to a masterful portrayal of the early life of Genghis Kahn. As such, Wolf of the Plains is a must read.
Classic October 22, 2008
chuckles (Netherlands)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Conn Iggulden is my favourite historical fiction writer, just ahead of Bernard Cornwell and Manfredi. In this book he gives you an amazing insight into a time in history that most of us do not know. His writing draws you into the life and mind of this amazing people, and to be honest sheds a different light onto a historical figure that most people just think of as a ruthless warlord. Conn does it again!
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