Another epic story brought to life (Wolf Of The Plains - Conn Iggulden)

Member Name: stevek181

Product:	Wolf Of The Plains - Conn Iggulden
Date:	04/10/09 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A cracking, fast-moving read

Disadvantages: Gorey, not historically accurate enough for some

Conn Iggulden, author of the excellent "Emperor" series turns his attention to the incredible story of Genghis Khan in "Wolf Of The Plains", the first of the "Conqueror" trilogy.

The story of how Temujin, thrown out of his tribe and left to starve on the Mongolian Plains with his family, became Genghis Khan, ruler of a dynasty that would one day hold sway over a quarter of the Earth's land area, is not often told.

Iggulden tells the tale in vivid style, bringing the characters to life and recreating the era in stark clarity. We feel the bitter betrayal as Temujin's father is assassinated and the young family abandoned. We feel the desperation and loneliness as the family battle for survival in the bleak Mongolian Winter. And ultimately we share in the sense of righteous victory as they seek revenge on those who have wronged them and the young tribe blossoms.

Iggulden is one of the finest writers of historical fiction around and his true strength here, as in the "Emperor" series, lies in bringing the bloody battles to the life. The fights are described in gloriously gory techni-colour, leaving little to the readers' imagination.

Also, the lack of subtlety in his story telling may be a problem for some readers, as his blunt, fast-moving style leaves little room for analysis or in-depth conversation, and this makes some of the lesser characters slightly one dimensional.

Another source of criticism is the historical inaccuracies within the book. However, this is slightly pedantic as this is a work of fiction and Iggulden actually follows the fairly sketchy details of Genghis' background quite closely. Some readers, like myself, not only will be keen to read the next two volumes after finishing this book, but will also want to find out more about the true story of Genghis Khan. This is a real tribute to Iggulden's accessible style of writing.

In conclusion, this is an entertaining and engrossing historical thriller, shedding light on one of the most influential characters in mankind's history and is well worth a read.

Summary: An excellent read