When Temujin, first-born of Yesukai, chief of the Yakka Mongols, saw the light of day, the priest of his tribe prophesied that he would be the ruler of all men.
This is the story of the fulfillment of that prophecy, made beside a yellow-gray river in Central Asia, in the sixth decade of the tenth century, before a throng of wild, dirty and drunken tribesmen gathered around a roaring campfire.
For Temujin was to become Genghis Khan, "the perfect warrior," scourge of the world from the China Sea to the banks of the Dnieper, hated, feared and followed to the death by hordes of faithful warriors.
Around the childhood, youth, and young manhood of this titanic figure Taylor Caldwell has woven a story that, for wealth of thrilling incident, depth of insight into the souls of barbaric men and women and brilliance of description, surpasses even the author's internationally popular "Dynasty of Death" and "The Eagles Gather."
As he dominated the Eastern world so Temujin dominates this novel. Barely in his teens he was raised to the head of his tribe on the death of his father, and in a few short months found himself reduced to a handful of followers, his tents destroyed and his tribesmen decimated by hostile raiders. But even then the boy felt his destiny strong upon him and with the help of Houlun, his indomitable mother, and the wise counsel of his crippled uncle, Kurelen, started afresh on the long perilous path to power.
"I alone matter" was his motto. He stopped at nothing. He was a supreme believer in force, and soon learned his "most significant lesson—that some men can be won with words, a few with love, many with gifts, but all with the threat of force. He learned that a strong whip in the hand of a master is greater than any philosophy, and that a stern boot is more feared than all the gods."
The story of Temujin who became Genghis is one of strong men and beautiful women; of savage battles in the wild Gobi; of silken intrigues in the perfumed palaces of the city-dwelling Turks; of bitter hatreds and undying loyalties, of the "four silver hounds of Temujin"—Kasar, Subodai, Chepe Noyon, and Jamuga, the paladin brothers; of the tragic and beautiful Azara who inspired in Temujin the only selfless love he ever knew; of ambition that knew no bounds—and that has its counterpart in our own time.
For those who like romance, the clash of arms, adventure, and the full, brilliant color of days and a man whose name still echoes through history, for all those who enjoy a good story superbly told The Earth Is the Lord's holds endless interest.
—from the dust jacket
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