Chingis Khan
Henry Holt, 1991
Demo's biography of the great khan, Chingis (in a later edition, the author uses Genghis; in some scholarly texts one finds yet other spellings), takes us from his birth in 1160 to the Yakka Mongol tribe to his death in 1227 when he ruled over a vast empire that encompassed the Middle East, Russia, Central Asia, and China. (The conquest of South Asia would have to wait for a later generation.) His early accomplishments as a youth, typical of hagiography, foreshadow his future greatness. He demonstrates fearlessness and resolve in shooting his half-brother for stealing from the tribe. Such acts earn him the respect of loyal followers essential to the success of later military campaigns. Demi's biography is filled with drama and does not shy away from the violence in Chingis' life. It is an exciting read, and although I found Demi's charatericstically delicate and miniaturizing illustrations somewhat odd for this epic subject, I nevertheless thought it a good read for young audiences.
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