There has long been a need for a scholarly English edition of the great 13th century historical epic, The Secret History of the Mongols, the only surviving Mongol source about the empire. The book is mainly about the life and the career of Chinggis Khan, his ancestors and his rise to power.
Chinggis Khan was not only a military genius, but also a great statesman and diplomat. Through a combination of armed force and diplomacy, he managed to merge the complex system of alliances which existed between diverse tribes into a powerful confederacy that swept across most of Eurasia, starting in 1219.
Urgunge Onon's fresh translation brings out the excitement of this epic with its wide-ranging commentaries on military and social conditions, religion and philosophy, while remaining faithful to the original text. This fully annotated edition is prefaced by a 36 page introduction setting the work in its cultural and historical context.

Reviews

'An outstanding achievement. Not only does he make this diificult chronicle easily readable and understandable for both academics and general readers, but his is the only version in English to incorporate the insights and understandings of a native Mongol. Furthermore, the vivid language of this translation conveys the literary qualities of the original, which is a poetic masterpiece as well as a historical chronicle.' - A. Hurelbaatar Inner Asia

'An outstanding achievement.' - A. Hurelbaatar Inner Asia

Book Information
ISBN 9780415515269
Author Professor Urgunge Onon
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 560g