Ghengis Khan's Mongolia
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was obviously the inspiration for this novel. The book has a lovingly detailed setting and strong characters, with the pendulum constantly swinging between cruelty and gentleness. It is clear that the author has researched the lifestyle of the Mongolian nomad's well. But there is one minor detail that grated with me. He refers to the Mongolian tents as YURTS. That's not the word the Mongolians use. The word Yurt was imposed on them by the Russians. Before, and after, the Russian occupation they used the word GER to describe the round felt tents. They are angry if outsiders uses the word YURT. It's an insult to them. I'm surprised that the author has his 'Mongolian' characters refer to their tents in a phrase that applied to the Mid-20th century 'Sovjet Protection' period. It's totally out of place. A very minor point, I admit. But to me it spoilt the book somewhat. I've lived in Mongolia (in GERS) and have close Mongolian friends. I know they would approve of this book, and of the way their history is approached, because they are proud of Ghenghis Khan and of their horses. The other Mongolian words the author uses - e.g. DEL for the unisex garment, are correct.
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