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    Wolf of the Plains
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    Wolf of the Plains
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    Wolf of the Plains
    Audiobook14 hours

    Wolf of the Plains

    Written by Conn Iggulden

    Narrated by Stephen Thorne

    4/5

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    Unavailable in your country

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    About this audiobook

    The first book in the bestselling Conqueror series featuring Genghis Khan and his descendants.

    'I am the land and the bones of the hills. I am the winter.'

    Temujin, the second son of the khan of the Wolves tribe, was only eleven when his father died in an ambush.His family were thrown out of the tribe and left alone, without food or shelter, to starve to death on the harsh Mongolian plains.

    It was a rough introduction to his life, to a sudden adult world, but Temujin survived, learning to combat natural and human threats. A man, a small family, without a tribe was always at risk but he gathered other outsiders to him, creating a new tribal identity. It was during some of his worst times that the image of uniting the warring tribes and bringing the silver people together came to him. He will become the khan of the sea of grass, Genghis.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateSep 22, 2016
    ISBN9780008218386
    Unavailable
    Wolf of the Plains
    Author

    Conn Iggulden

    Born in London, Conn Iggulden read English at London University and worked as a teacher for seven years before becoming a full-time writer. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and their children.

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    Reviews for Wolf of the Plains

    4/5

    618 ratings61 reviews

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    • 4/5
      The first in the Conquror series about Genghis Khan: Temujin and his family are abandoned to harsh winter conditions after the death of his father Yesugei, khan of the Mongolian Wolf tribe. Against all odds, they manage to survive and end up trading with other wanderers. Temujin grows strong under these conditions, and this strength saves him from the terrible events that unfold. He soon learns to strategise in order to face brutal enemies who attack without warning and plans to unite the wandering tribes into one. As his legend grows he soon sees through the manipulative and destructive influence of the Chinese ambassador in the tribe's midst. His vision and ability to lead and inspire loyalty in his people are still legend today and his early years make fascinating reading. I was also impressed with the maps on the inside covers and by the afterword at the end of the book pointing out where the author had strayed from historical accuracy. This rounded out the story nicely and I look forward to reading more by this author.
    • 4/5
      I loved all the G Kan saga books. Such imagination and yet remarkably detailed.
    • 5/5
      great book, it is interestig how some of metaphors still remaind in mongolian language (see Metaphors and Nomads book)
    • 4/5
      I have a strange and un-natural love for Genghis Kahn, so with that said I loved this book. Based on histories I have read previously this book stayed pretty true to life of Genghs Kahn, of course all the emotions and conversations are fiction. But the meat of the story grasps both the legend and the history fairly well. In short the story of Genghis Kahn is a amazing read and this book doesn't deter from that at all.
    • 5/5
      By chance i fetched the second book of the series first and bought the first book after i was infected with this series.Where the second book tells the story of his conquest of the Chin empire the first book tells us about Genghis hard youth and hard it was indeed. Starting out gloriously by being the second oldest son of the khan his life gets quickly turned upside down as his father meets an untimely end. Abandoned by their tribe the family is forced to survive without any means in hte harsh mongolian winter. This struggle forges ghengis in the ruthless warrior he needs to becom to fulfill his destiny and unite the clans…
    • 5/5
      Iggulden has an engaging page turn style, and this is one of his best
    • 4/5
      This is the first book by Conn Iggulgen I read and, I'm happy to say, it was well worth reading, even though it isn't the "best book I've ever read." If only the author paid more attention to what and how his characters speak! Of course, he couldn't have made them speak in their native tongues, but still ... why a 13th century AD Tartar warrior would say something like "yack penis"? "Penis"?! Are there no English monosyllables with the same meaning available? And why Temujin (an uneducated Mongol, after all, his talents notwithstanding) speaks with the same voice as a refined and sophisticated Chinese ambassador? Mr. Iggulden makes him to admit that he doesn't know many words used by the Chinese diplomat, but how does Temujin know what "alternative" is, then? Could it be that, after several novels about the ancient Rome he has written, Mr. Iggulden's thinking is still in a Latin "groove"?
    • 5/5
      Perfect historical fiction. Great narrator. Blah blah blah blah blah
    • 5/5
      Great first up, not sure what to expect but great narration and writing
    • 5/5
      Wolf of the Plains is a magnificent first part to the Conquerer series. Exploring the incredibly tough upbringing and rise to power of Temujin (the later Genghis Khan) Wolf is historical fiction of the highest order. Based mainly on the Secret History of the Mongols and following much of the same path as the also tremendous film Mongol, Iggulden brings to life the nomadic lifestyle, the bitter warring, and thirst for revenge that are the backdrop for the rise to power of one of the greatest conquerors in history.Iggulden is clearly a man with an affinity for the Mongolian plains. Spending time there to research was well worth the effort as his descriptions of the scenery, of the people, of the nomadic lifestyle are drawn so that any outsider can feel the experience. The narrative that begins with Temujin's journey to find a wife and the death of his father is fast paced and gripping. Each chapter flows rapidly by and the whole joins together as at times a heartrending tale but one of overcoming the odds, of coming of age, and ultimately triumph.Generally Iggulden does not hold back in describing the cultural values of the Mongol people. He rarely sensitises for the more fragile western mindset though there are occasions where western values creep in and those are jarring at times. The most notable is the concept of nationhood. The thought process behind this jumps out suddenly and doesn't really follow from what happens before. I mention this because otherwise the characters are so incredibly well developed that each of them is clearly distinguishable from the others including in motive and in action. While some more space for the accumulation of loyalty from those without tribes would have been nice this is an area of Temujin's story that is simply not recorded anywhere so this oversight is understandable.As well as Mongolia, Iggulden also clearly understands young men. Throughout, Wolf is a coming of age story set in some of the most difficult environs imaginable. Temujin not only has to survive but also to learn the skills he needs for manhood including in building and protecting a family. Being wrenched away from his tribe puts Temujin at a massive disadvantage in a communal society and the decisions he has to make are hard but to be Genghis Khan means having to be a leader who can make those decisions and the boy cast adrift into the wild fights on to become a Khan commanding the loyalty of millions.The book concludes (as do each in the trilogy) with a note on the historical facts. I really appreciated that as during the novel I'd been telling myself that it was Merkits that captured Borte, not Tartars. Iggulden clarifies where he has taken dramatic licence for the storyline's sake and throws ina couple of anecdotal historical snapshots that help only to build the world the story exists within.
    • 5/5
      The undisputed King of historical fiction on fine form. Brilliant. 'Nuff said.
    • 5/5
      Fascinating historical dramatization of the life of Genghis Khan. I was immersed in the voice and imagery so deeply that both the reader and the storyteller were secondary to the experience. Life was brutal, yet Genghis was a mixture of ruthlessness and brilliance. Tribal life of the Mongols contrasted with that of the Chin in a very yin/yang extreme way. While abhorrent in many respects, the strength of will and struggle for survival in such a tribal society has much to teach about the nature of mankind. Elements of religion, customs, human relations - all seen raw and basic. I admire the sublime heights of cultured society, but the earthy trials of existence has an austere beauty as well. Well told, well written, and highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      PLUS -* A really good coming of age tale. The author obviously understands boys, and that really comes across even though the time and place of the story make their lives very different to ours.* The relationships between the 5 brothers were really well written, with lots of interesting dynamics of rivalry, love, jealousy, respect. Anyone with a sibling will identify with that aspect of the story.* Excellent historical notes at the end of the book. I always read historical fiction 'with a pinch of salt', but it's nice to betold exactly where the story has deviated from historical reality for reasons of plot, and why. MINUS - * I preferred the beginning of the book (where the brothers are younger) to the end (where they are adult) so I'll be interested to see how I get on with the next in the series.* I'm not a big fan of war stories, so I preferred the part about the people, relationships and tribes to the battle scenes. OVERALL - * An exciting storytelling, a fast paced plot, with lots going on, great characters and very well reserched historical detail.
    • 5/5
      Quite possibly the best book about the Mongol savage I have read. Looking forward to reading the whole series now.
    • 3/5
      Having recently read a biography of ghengis khan I started this book expecting a bit of a let down, but was soon captured by the excellence of the story-telling. I see little point in carping about such matters as whether Temujin would have spoken in a particular way or would have known sophisticated words - if you want that king of historical accuracy, read history rather than fictionalised versions!
    • 5/5
      Brilliantly written. Conn tells a imaginative and invigorating tale. Genghis comes alive in the telling. His brilliance and tactical genius flow from the pages. You can't help but to become entranced by the story. It will keep you up till late in the night.
    • 2/5
      This is an action filled tale about Genghis Kahn. It is cinematic in tone, and by that I mean it is plot oriented, with one exciting thing after another happening in rapid succession. I could accept the violence when I felt it was motivated by the need to either kill or be killed; I could accept it when he was younger and simply fighting to survive. By the end, it was simply too much. Lots of gory fighting, with some love thrown in too. What did I learn about the Mongolian way of life? Very little, that I didn’t know before. Sky burials are much better depicted in “Sky Burial: An Epic Love Story of Tibet” by Xinran, which is a biography. There is a detailed Afterword that explains what if fact and what is fiction, and the author does stick to the known fact for much of the tale. It is just not my kind of book, but sure, others may like it.ETA: I will be reading "Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World" by Weatherford as a counterbalance to what I have gotten from Iggulden's book. Completed May 3, 2013
    • 5/5
      A fantastic epic start to a series I can´t wait to finish.
    • 5/5
      An excellent novel about the early years of Genghis Khan. Iggulden writes both action and characters very well and with gripping force. (I read nearly the entire book in one sitting.) I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment, and have his series about Caesar at the top of my "to buy" list.I will agree with a previous review about the dialog occasionally being a weak spot, but even where I noticed something was, perhaps, off, it never really jarred me out of the story.
    • 3/5
      right above the author's name, the cover proclaims "from the author of the dangerous book for boys!!" at first, that seemed rather odd to me, that they'd want to highlight the prior kids'-book resume on the current adult fiction novel. all during the first third of the book, though, the similarities are quite evident: call it historical fiction for the YA set. this tale of the boy that would become genghis khan starts out with plenty of sibling rivalry, rough-n-tumble boys stuff, and attempts to win dad's attention (if not affection). it gets more than a little repetitive, but just about the time i was getting disinterested with it, the story took off wonderfully. the remaining chunk of the book is an exciting adventure story, outlining a rough-edged life without being oppressive. if the remaining books in the series take their cues from the latter half, it'll be good.
    • 5/5
      Conn Iggulden does a wonderful job of weaving a believable story around the historical facts surrounding the rise of Genghis Khan. From his carefree childhood with his brothers, to the leadership he had to develop out of necessity in order that his family survive being cast out of their tribe after his father's untimely death, and later to building a strong alliance among wanderers and tribes alike to fight and defeat the Tartars, Temujin of the Wolves stands out for being intelligent, eager learn from others, kind and ruthless.The richness in detail makes this a thrilling read. The battles read like well choreographed epic movie scenes while the daily rigors of life on the plains provoked images of hardship and yet pleasure and happiness surfaced every now and again. This is not a book you'll want to read if you know you don't have time to devote to it, because you'll miss all your deadlines and get yourself fired from your job. Having said that, this is not a ponderous tome and the words flow like silk.
    • 5/5
      I think this is probably the best book i have ever read.
    • 5/5
      A great ending to a great series on one of the great civilizations of the world. Amazing book telling of how the Mongol leadership changes hands and battled their way through enemies using strategy, speed and the almighty bow. Definitely a great series to read. Can't wait for the next Iggulden series, where will he go next?
    • 4/5
      fascinating book
    • 4/5
      Enthralling culture/way of life - formidable nomadic war hosts so readily accepted as the nation's daily norm while also recognizing the benefit of a stationary city AND the ability of a woman to rule. Need to explore the avenues of westward expansion into the Ikhanate of Persia/Iran and eastward expansion into the Yuan Dynasty.
    • 4/5
      This is part of a series (5 of 5 so far) that describes what happened to the Mongols of central Asia during and after Genghis Khan's rule. I hadn't read the previous books, and I'm sure that made a big difference in how much I enjoyed this one. However, Conn Iggulden's writing style is wonderful; he's a master storyteller. That being said, this is fiction, not history. The characters may be based upon historical figures, but their actions and personalities are, apparently, entirely the author's own. He's taken a lot of liberty with history, and if that doesn't matter to you, then you will surely enjoy the action and intrigue in this novel. I didn't like the quick changes of POV between chapters, especially, but the story was fascinating.
    • 5/5
      I suspect there will be more of these coming. The author does a nice job of moving into the next set of characters in this saga. In this one, we're a couple generations away from Genghis, and as is the case with most family dynasties, this one is imploding on itself. Kublai is written as the one descendent "worthy" of the kingdom, and as a very likable and admirable character.

      I will say that now that I've gone as far as I can with this series, I'm reading some other history of the time, and have to say I like that Iggulden stayed relatively close to actual history when creating these stories. Sure, he seems to have taken some liberty to develop a good story, but these are novels after all, not pure history books. He "massages" characters to make a better story, which takes away from the likely historical accuracy, but I'm OK with that.

      I listened to all of these on audiobook. As I mentioned in an earlier review, I'm really not crazy about the narrator. While he does a good job overall, he keeps changing his pronunciation of words and phrases from book to book. This could be because someone corrected him between books, or it could be that he just changes his mind on how he wants to say it. It's a bit annoying.
    • 4/5
      Iggulden wraps up his Mongol Empire series with the life of Kublai. While the character and plot development isn't as gripping as with his early works in this series, it nevertheless serves as a solid conclusion to the series - yet leaves open the potential for more to come (however unlikely this may be).
    • 4/5
      I enjoy Iggulden's books and have enjoyed all of his Khan series, from Ghengis on to Kublai. Interesting times [not to mention, brutal]
    • 5/5
      Enjoyed the book.