On the Trail of Genghis Khan (Tim Cope, Bloomsbury)

What a tale this is! Adventurer, author and filmmaker Tim Cope gives us an awe-inspiring account of his three-year trek on horseback from Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia, to the Danube River in Hungary, retracing the journeys of Genghis Khan and his warriors as they expanded their empire. Unaccompanied for the majority of the journey except by his sturdy horses and faithful dog Tigon, Cope battles the scorching heat of summer and sub-zero winter temperatures, seemingly endless steppes and daunting ranges, obstructive bureaucracy, personal setbacks, constant money problems and the sheer scale of this mammoth undertaking. That he succeeds is due to a combination of his determination to experience and understand the nomadic lifestyles of the former inhabitants of these regions, the ingrained hospitality of the locals (70 families in Kazakhstan alone), previous adventuring experience, and unusual skill in defusing potentially hostile encounters on the road. He peppers his narrative with brief histories of tribal groups including Mongols, Huns, Scythians, Magyars, Hutsuls, the tragic Tatars of the Crimea and many more, giving the book added interest and depth. This will appeal to armchair travellers, real adventurers, history buffs and anyone yearning for a simpler, more natural life, or just an inspiring read.

Max Oliver is a veteran Australian bookseller and traveller

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Category: Reviews