An inventive translation of a great historical epic, recounting the turbulent life and times of Chinggis Khan
'By the Power of Eternal Heaven; By the Protection of the Majestic Imperial Fortune.'
Born a poor nomad in an unforgiving world, Chinggis (or Genghis) Khan transformed the thirteenth century, ultimately ruling an empire that would stretch from Korea to Crimea and Syria to Siberia. Much of what we know about Chinggis comes from the horrified comments of foreign chroniclers, but there is one exceptional and authentic source- The Secret History of the Mongols, written after Chinggis's death to be read exclusively by the Mongolian imperial family (hence 'secret' to all other readers).
This new translation gives an unparalleled insight into one of the transformative moments in world history and a society where unchecked swagger, menace, and ambition lay side by side with unexpected tenderness and vulnerability. Based around kinship, horses, yurts, weapons and immense spaces, The Secret History is a sometimes opaque and mysterious saga that brings the reader face to face with nomad warlords and their ladies impelled by Heaven's uncanny destiny. This remarkable new translation does full justice to the earliest surviving work written in Mongolian.
With an introduction by translator Christopher P. Atwood.
Translated by:
Christopher P. Atwood
Imprint: Penguin
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 198mm,
Width: 129mm,
Spine: 26mm
Weight: 348g
ISBN: 9780241197912
ISBN 10: 0241197910
Pages: 432
Publication Date: 14 November 2023
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Influence of the Secret History and its Preservation 2. The World of the Secret History 3. Date and Authorship 4. Title, Genre, Composition 5. Mongolian Terms and their Translation Note on Spellings and Pronunciation Note on Chapter, Sub-chapter and Section Divisions Figures Maps THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE MONGOLS 1: The Origin of Chinggis Khan 2: The Youth of Chinggis Khan 3: The Early Battles of Chinggis Khan 4: Chinggis Khan and Ong Khan 5: Completing the Unification of Mongolia 6: The New Regime 7: The Foreign Conquests 8: The Reign of Ökodei Khann Colophon Afterword: The Transmission and Translation ofthe Secret History Appendix A: Alternative Mouse Year Theories and the Question of the Secret History’s Unity Appendix B: Socio-political Organization of the Pre-Chinggisid Mongols Appendix C: The New Aristocracy under Chinggis Khan Appendix D: Chronologies of the Foreign Conquests Bibliography Notes Glossary of Names
Christopher P. Atwood teaches Mongolian history and civilization at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his doctorate from Indiana University. He has traveled extensively in independent Mongolia and Inner Mongolia. Atwood's previous books include The Rise of the Mongols- Five Chinese Sources and the Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire.
Reviews for The Secret History of the Mongols
The Secret History of the Mongols describes in vivid detail the life and times of Chinggis Khan, not as an enemy, but as the Mongols saw themselves … This translation is a monumental event, a publishing landmark … Christopher Atwood has given the reader a translation for contemporary times. It is like a caravanserai, providing the materials needed for both scholar and general reader, organized for one's private trek through the empire. -- Diane Wolff, author of The Silk Road Series This is an important book… a contemporaneous record of one of the most astonishing and significant events in history… Atwood’s text is a masterpiece of erudition and skill… a vital resource for anyone interested in the biggest bang of the last millennium. -- John Man * Literary Review *
