Product Description

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 a consummate manipulator of the complex system of alliances which existed between diverse tribes, and through a combination of armed force and diplomacy, he managed to merge them into a powerful confederacy which swept across most of Eurasia, starting in 1215. 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #972950 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 298 pages

Review
'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. Hürelbaatar Inner Asia

An outstanding achievement. - A. Hürelbaatar Inner Asia

Customer Reviews

Wonderful translation -- much more accurate than Cleaves
This is an excellent translation of the Mongoliin Nuuts Tovchoo (Secret History of the Mongols). It is much more accurate that the Francis Cleaves edition. Onon fixes Cleaves' mistakes and explains why they are wrong. There are also good explanations of the mistakes of many of the Chinese interlinear notes in the early manuscript. Besides the outrageous price, this book is a "must have!"

Decent translation, but not well-sourced
While I agree with other reviewers that this is a better translation than Cleaves, it is not very well-sourced. Onon makes many assertions based on "I know this because I am a Mongol" which are not, as far as I can tell, supportable. I would recommend Onon for his readability, but the two-volume Igor De Rachewiltz translation has far better annotations and commentary for scholarly purposes. Onon's assertions (especially about Buddhism in the Mongol Empire) should probably be taken with numerous grains of salt.

Neither translation is particularly affordable for the average person, which is why we have interlibrary-loan.

Must have book.
Interested in Mongols' History? Think you know Chinggis khaan (Genghis Khan)? If you haven't read this book gotta have this one then. Without it you don't know a thing about Chinggis khaan. There are lots of translations of "The Secret History of the Mongols." But this. This is the best translation work! Urgunge Onon's translation is incomparable with other translations.