In the Sung territory, Kublai announces himself to be the Khan. This paves the way for a civil war, pitting brother against brother. The book is fat over pages. But it is so interesting that when I came to the end I was a wee bit surprised that the author had chosen not to cover the entire story of Kublai Khan.
The world probably knows him better for better for his establishment of the Yuan dynasty in China, his campaigns against Japan and his meeting with the famed explorer Marco Polo.
Conn Iggulden explains why he chosen to end the story on the note of Kublai prevailing in the civil war. The narration is very tight and the imagery it creates is awesome. To me, Conn Iggulden is the master of historical fiction. I really hope that one day he would write a whole novel about the scholar-warrior-conqueror, Kublai Khan and also about that formidable lady, Sorhatani Kublai's mother.
Guyuk Khan dies mysteriously and Mongke Khan assumes the gur-khanate. Placing his three brothers in the greatest of the small khanates, Mongke gives Khublai the Chin lands with the command to take the Sung dynasty down. Khublai, their scholarly brother who has a preference for books and the Chin traditions and dress, all of which are an anathema to Mongke. Neither Mongke or Khublai are certain if this seemingly difficult order is to destroy all things Chin, including his brother Khublai, or simply to get all things Chin out of his sight and away from Karakorum.
Khublai asks for, and is granted, Yao Shu, advisor to Odegai Khan and Guyuk Khan, along with the Chin scribes, and takes them away with him. Mongke also gives into Khublai's entourage, his best military mind, Orlok Uriang-Khadai, with the express orders to destroy the Sung dynasty. We all know that Khublai surprised everyone and became a talented, savvy warlord. On the death of Mongke, youngest brother, Arik-Boke, declares himself gur-khan, not knowing that Khublai had done likewise while thousands of miles away in Sung territory, at the gates of Hangzhou, the seat of the Sung dynasty.
Now the fun begins. Iggulden writes with flair and assurance, always so very well-researched that his stories are history lessons as well as fine action pieces. His skill in writing military scenes, involved and complicated battle scenes, is unrivaled, I believe. His "Historical Notes" are full of answers to questions we might have, and also explain his choices when he must choose, and the reasons he might have fiddled a bit with the historical record -- all credible and satisfying.
The trick to maintaining such credibility is in admitting that you knew what you were doing and why. I'm never disappointed in Iggulden's work. I find it stimulating and that it often produces in me a desire to begin researches about the historical periods he writes about.
Download links for: Conqueror Advertising. Online stores:. Copy in the library:. Reviews see all Laurenmercedess. As a Hong Kong bornt chinese, Genghis Khan and his descendants were a must on the curriculum but not in too much details. It is fascinating to read the "Genghis Khan" series of Conn Iggulden. I have never heard of the books until one of my friend from the US sent me disk of audio books in which was the exciting 4th book, The City of Silver was among them.
I didn't recognized their English names fo the characters, and I thought it was just purely fictional, but really good. Then I discovered the series and finished all 5 books in one week. By far, the most interesting ones are the first and the last, Conqueror. Although the books are fictions, but its based real historical facts, albeit the chronological order and the characters may have been manipulated to suit the flow of the stories.
We had only a glimpse of the intelligence of Kublai Khan in our text books, but in this last book and that much is obvious. He is the perfect student of his life long mentor Yao Shu, but he himself has innovative ideas all of his own. His reign as the first Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty is full of merits, because he recognizes and respects the people's culture and his own liking for the literature and ways of life of the people he rules.
That is most impotant, when you are a minor number of foreigners ruling over million subjects. You can't kill them all, mot even if Genghis is alive. This final book, has all the trappings of a great historical novel, the story telling is great, the plot intriquing and most of all, it never strays too far from real facts, the battles, the cities Mongol warriors blundered and destroy, add that to a twist of the author's own imagination.
Picked up the fifth and final book in the series by mistake and didn't really realize until I was halfway through it. Clearly, continuity throughout the series isn't crucial for enjoying one book, and if you have basic knowledge of the rise of the Mongolian empire you already kind of know the broad strokes of what's going to happen. All in all it's a fairly well-written and enjoyable book 2.
Your Comment:. Home Downloads Free Downloads Conqueror pdf. Read Online Download. Hot Shadow of the Conqueror by Shad M. Brooks by Shad M. Bown by Stephen R. Great book, Conqueror pdf is enough to raise the goose bumps alone. Add a review Your Rating: Your Comment:. Shadow of the Conqueror by Shad M. Conqueror by Conn Iggulden. Conqueror by David Drake. The Conqueror by Brenda Joyce.
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