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The Secret History of the Mongols
A new translation of a great historical epic, recounting the turbulent life and times of Chinggis Khan
'Bear the sword and
Hew asunder high and haughty necks
Slash apart all strong and self-willed shoulders'
Born poor into a world of dangers and hardships, Chinggis (or Genghis) Khan would grow up to unify Mongolia and conquer a vast empire stretching from modern-day Beijing to Baghdad. The Secret History of the Mongols , written after Chinggis's death in the thirteenth century, is a great historical saga recounting not only his turbulent life and times, but that of his loved ones, ancestors and heirs. This remarkable new translation of the earliest surviving work written in Mongolian gives insight into a world of warlords, kinship, horses, yurts, shamans and vast landscapes, where bloody battles and violent family conflicts are impelled by Heaven's destiny.
Translated with an introduction by Christopher P. Atwood
'Bear the sword and
Hew asunder high and haughty necks
Slash apart all strong and self-willed shoulders'
Born poor into a world of dangers and hardships, Chinggis (or Genghis) Khan would grow up to unify Mongolia and conquer a vast empire stretching from modern-day Beijing to Baghdad. The Secret History of the Mongols , written after Chinggis's death in the thirteenth century, is a great historical saga recounting not only his turbulent life and times, but that of his loved ones, ancestors and heirs. This remarkable new translation of the earliest surviving work written in Mongolian gives insight into a world of warlords, kinship, horses, yurts, shamans and vast landscapes, where bloody battles and violent family conflicts are impelled by Heaven's destiny.
Translated with an introduction by Christopher P. Atwood
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2023
82 people are currently reading
655 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 5, 2023
I wanted to read this because years ago I used Francis Cleaves' Secret History for a project on Mongol religion. Back then there was little help in understanding what the text was and what it meant or where it came from. Plus there was maybe two copies in all of Boston and you couldn't borrow either one. This update is way more accessible, the notes much more detailed and the scholarship evident in Atwood's approach. I doubt many will read this for fun, but if you are interested in how empires form and fail, Atwood's translation and notes are a great start.
April 2, 2024
"The Secret History of the Mongols" by Christopher P. Atwood is a remarkable journey into the tumultuous life and times of Genghis Khan and his legendary empire. As one of the oldest surviving literary works in the Mongolian language, this translation is not just a retelling of history, but a captivating narrative that transports readers to the heart of the Mongol world.
Atwood's translation breathes new life into this epic tale, combining insider history with verse to weave a compelling narrative of conquest, alliance, and betrayal. From Genghis Khan's humble beginnings to the rise of a unified Mongolia that reshaped the medieval world, every page is filled with the vibrant spirit of the nomadic horse lords.
What sets this edition apart is Atwood's insightful introduction and comprehensive footnotes, providing invaluable context and shedding light on the nuances of Mongolian history. While some discrepancies in spellings and details may arise, Atwood's meticulous scholarship ensures that readers are guided through the complexities of the text with clarity and precision.
As a lover of historical epics, I found "The Secret History of the Mongols" to be an enriching and captivating read. Atwood's translation not only preserves the essence of the original work but also makes it accessible to a wider audience, serving as a gateway to the fascinating world of Mongolian history.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Atwood's translation breathes new life into this epic tale, combining insider history with verse to weave a compelling narrative of conquest, alliance, and betrayal. From Genghis Khan's humble beginnings to the rise of a unified Mongolia that reshaped the medieval world, every page is filled with the vibrant spirit of the nomadic horse lords.
What sets this edition apart is Atwood's insightful introduction and comprehensive footnotes, providing invaluable context and shedding light on the nuances of Mongolian history. While some discrepancies in spellings and details may arise, Atwood's meticulous scholarship ensures that readers are guided through the complexities of the text with clarity and precision.
As a lover of historical epics, I found "The Secret History of the Mongols" to be an enriching and captivating read. Atwood's translation not only preserves the essence of the original work but also makes it accessible to a wider audience, serving as a gateway to the fascinating world of Mongolian history.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
April 18, 2025
I've always been fascinated by the story of Chenghis Khan and the history of the Mongol Empire. This book is often cited as a main source for those stories.
That said, I found it difficult to sink my teeth into. I believe that's due more to the fact that this is a series of texts, hundreds of years old and translated through various languages than to any issue with the story itself or the author who provides this version. I enjoyed learning about the history of the text itself and the theories about who wrote it and when, but the actual text was tough to follow. It was like reading a very dense history text book, which makes sense I guess if you look at this as a primary source.
if you're genuinely interested in this story, then I recommend checking it out. if you're casually interested, then pass and find some historical fiction on the topic.
That said, I found it difficult to sink my teeth into. I believe that's due more to the fact that this is a series of texts, hundreds of years old and translated through various languages than to any issue with the story itself or the author who provides this version. I enjoyed learning about the history of the text itself and the theories about who wrote it and when, but the actual text was tough to follow. It was like reading a very dense history text book, which makes sense I guess if you look at this as a primary source.
if you're genuinely interested in this story, then I recommend checking it out. if you're casually interested, then pass and find some historical fiction on the topic.
March 3, 2025
It’s notably difficult to translate this. It is also challenging on my end.
This is a government document, not a narrative. It’s fascinating to read, however, a more reality-based clinical document from this time period. Most of the historical documents we encounter are exciting tales and unusual events—often leading to fabrication. This history really WAS kept secret. The author (potentially a woman!) had incentive to provide the real, inside story, although not always work a high degree of accuracy.
It also means large sections of this are tedious for us laypeople. And when I say laypeople, I mean casual readers like myself who have done some background reading and know who in the royal family is important. Who made an impact—Sübe’edei Ba’atur and Sorġoqtani are waaaay more important than is apparent here.
You absolutely need background information to understand. Atwood did his best. In fact, the history itself is only 160 pages of the 350 page book. Having to reference footnotes, maps, genealogies, and glossaries ~3-6 times a page is tedious. There are eighty(!) pages of contextualizing footnotes—not references, which are separate.
I strongly appreciate all of this information, but I think it might have actually been less disruptive to have the footnotes on the page they’re related to. I realize this might be challenging to organize, but I think it’s warranted.
Personally, I’d give this a two. But this is such a Sisyphean task that I have to give it 4.
This is a truly interesting historical document, but not one I think most people should read for fun.
This is a government document, not a narrative. It’s fascinating to read, however, a more reality-based clinical document from this time period. Most of the historical documents we encounter are exciting tales and unusual events—often leading to fabrication. This history really WAS kept secret. The author (potentially a woman!) had incentive to provide the real, inside story, although not always work a high degree of accuracy.
It also means large sections of this are tedious for us laypeople. And when I say laypeople, I mean casual readers like myself who have done some background reading and know who in the royal family is important. Who made an impact—Sübe’edei Ba’atur and Sorġoqtani are waaaay more important than is apparent here.
You absolutely need background information to understand. Atwood did his best. In fact, the history itself is only 160 pages of the 350 page book. Having to reference footnotes, maps, genealogies, and glossaries ~3-6 times a page is tedious. There are eighty(!) pages of contextualizing footnotes—not references, which are separate.
I strongly appreciate all of this information, but I think it might have actually been less disruptive to have the footnotes on the page they’re related to. I realize this might be challenging to organize, but I think it’s warranted.
Personally, I’d give this a two. But this is such a Sisyphean task that I have to give it 4.
This is a truly interesting historical document, but not one I think most people should read for fun.
March 18, 2026
This is the classic history of the rise of Temujin who would later be coronated as Chinggis Khan and go on to conquer much of Eurasia. This text was written by an anonymous author in Ogodei Khan's reign, probably completed in 1252 according to Prof. Atwood, and it was a closely kept secret that was used as a source for more public narratives in Chinese and Persian. It was rediscovered in the Qing Dynasty from a Ming Dynasty era text that transcribed the Mongolian pronunciation in Chinese characters. Later, in the 20th century, large parts of the text were also rediscovered in a Mongolian/Tibetan Buddhist work. Professor Atwood's translation is the latest in several translations of this work to a broader audience.
The entire edition is 480 pages but the history itself is just 160 pages of this, with the rest taken up by the introduction, maps, endnotes, the afterword, glossary, and appendices. This seems excessive until you actually dive into the work and realize how much context is needed to make sense of it. It is not just the geography and culture of the 12/13th century Mongols and their neighbors that needs explaining but also the anonymous's author's perspective and biases, the work's genre and purpose, and the probable means of its composition. The original text is dense with cultural meaning that would not have to be explained to its contemporaries and Prof. Atwood's endnotes do a great job of explaining the references to the best of the modern historian's ability.
This work blends genealogy, history and poetry together. As explained in the introduction, the Nordic sagas and the early histories of the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) are probably the closest analogues that are widely known in the West. To me this felt more foreign than either of them due to the steppe setting. Out on the steppes, even powerful encampments are constantly vulnerable to sudden attacks which can wipe out political entities in an instant, with enslavement, plunder, murder, and sexual assault being the probable consequences for the defeated party. Trusted allies and subordinates are the most valuable commodities and loyalty to your ruler is the highest moral virtue. Subordinates who betray their leaders to curry favor with Temujin are treated with disgust and immediately executed while those who serve honorably on behalf of their leader until defeat are sometimes spared and become powerful commanders in the Khan's army. However the importance of loyalty seemed to often highlight its absence in the narrative. Alliances felt like a variation of Chekhov's gun, where if you two people or parties make an agreement you can be guaranteed it will be broken later.
The narrative has several memorable scenes and women play a surprisingly large role in the hyper-patriarchal society described by the author, especially Temujin's mother. However, I wouldn't describe the The Secret History as "entertaining" nor is it a particularly factually accurate overview of the rise of the empire. However it is a fascinating window into a society that's not just alien to modern readers, but probably to the residents of sedentary farming societies that existed contemporaneously to the medieval Mongols. Reading the introduction and endnotes together with the text was probably the most interesting part of the experience overall. I give this book 5 stars because of the historical value of the text and Prof. Atwood's excellent explication, but if you're not especially interested in the Mongols I would probably skip reading it.
The entire edition is 480 pages but the history itself is just 160 pages of this, with the rest taken up by the introduction, maps, endnotes, the afterword, glossary, and appendices. This seems excessive until you actually dive into the work and realize how much context is needed to make sense of it. It is not just the geography and culture of the 12/13th century Mongols and their neighbors that needs explaining but also the anonymous's author's perspective and biases, the work's genre and purpose, and the probable means of its composition. The original text is dense with cultural meaning that would not have to be explained to its contemporaries and Prof. Atwood's endnotes do a great job of explaining the references to the best of the modern historian's ability.
This work blends genealogy, history and poetry together. As explained in the introduction, the Nordic sagas and the early histories of the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) are probably the closest analogues that are widely known in the West. To me this felt more foreign than either of them due to the steppe setting. Out on the steppes, even powerful encampments are constantly vulnerable to sudden attacks which can wipe out political entities in an instant, with enslavement, plunder, murder, and sexual assault being the probable consequences for the defeated party. Trusted allies and subordinates are the most valuable commodities and loyalty to your ruler is the highest moral virtue. Subordinates who betray their leaders to curry favor with Temujin are treated with disgust and immediately executed while those who serve honorably on behalf of their leader until defeat are sometimes spared and become powerful commanders in the Khan's army. However the importance of loyalty seemed to often highlight its absence in the narrative. Alliances felt like a variation of Chekhov's gun, where if you two people or parties make an agreement you can be guaranteed it will be broken later.
The narrative has several memorable scenes and women play a surprisingly large role in the hyper-patriarchal society described by the author, especially Temujin's mother. However, I wouldn't describe the The Secret History as "entertaining" nor is it a particularly factually accurate overview of the rise of the empire. However it is a fascinating window into a society that's not just alien to modern readers, but probably to the residents of sedentary farming societies that existed contemporaneously to the medieval Mongols. Reading the introduction and endnotes together with the text was probably the most interesting part of the experience overall. I give this book 5 stars because of the historical value of the text and Prof. Atwood's excellent explication, but if you're not especially interested in the Mongols I would probably skip reading it.
January 31, 2026
The Secret History of the Mongols
💫 Less fun than the Memorial Feast of Kokotoy Khan, but incredible all the same.
✏️ This book tells the story of Chinggis (Genghis) Khan form his birth to his death, and some of the history after. It covers family squabbles, troop numbers and strategies in a way that separate it from later hagiographies of Chinggis.
The manuscript was likely written in 1252 (though there is some debate). The original text in Mongolian, translated syllable by syllable into Chinese, was fragmented and lost for a time. The story of the text is almost as interesting as the text itself.
Reading this I learned that they used to have absolutely massive yurts in wheeled carts. The original wide-load mobile home.
❤️ "As Mongols, are we not ones whose word 'yes' is an oath?"
Parts of this are incredibly dry, the description of the hierarchy of nightguards put me to sleep. But the work as a whole is super interesting. Chinggis comes across as human, clever and firm but also occasionally angry, frustrated, misguided.
When discussing succession, Chinngis's second son, Cagadai, gets rude about his older brother Joci (infamously suspected to be a bastard as his was born after Chinggis's first wife Borte was kidnapped by Merkit).
And so Joci grabs him by the collar and says, "What skills do you have more than me? Only in being difficult, maybe, are you better than me."
They compromise and pick Chinggis's third son, Ögedei, as heir to the empire.
👥 History nerds, nomad obsessed history nerds.
📍 Read on the ice planet of Hoth
❗This was a Christmas 2024 gift from my roommate, who never misses on a book pick.
💫 Less fun than the Memorial Feast of Kokotoy Khan, but incredible all the same.
✏️ This book tells the story of Chinggis (Genghis) Khan form his birth to his death, and some of the history after. It covers family squabbles, troop numbers and strategies in a way that separate it from later hagiographies of Chinggis.
The manuscript was likely written in 1252 (though there is some debate). The original text in Mongolian, translated syllable by syllable into Chinese, was fragmented and lost for a time. The story of the text is almost as interesting as the text itself.
Reading this I learned that they used to have absolutely massive yurts in wheeled carts. The original wide-load mobile home.
❤️ "As Mongols, are we not ones whose word 'yes' is an oath?"
Parts of this are incredibly dry, the description of the hierarchy of nightguards put me to sleep. But the work as a whole is super interesting. Chinggis comes across as human, clever and firm but also occasionally angry, frustrated, misguided.
When discussing succession, Chinngis's second son, Cagadai, gets rude about his older brother Joci (infamously suspected to be a bastard as his was born after Chinggis's first wife Borte was kidnapped by Merkit).
And so Joci grabs him by the collar and says, "What skills do you have more than me? Only in being difficult, maybe, are you better than me."
They compromise and pick Chinggis's third son, Ögedei, as heir to the empire.
👥 History nerds, nomad obsessed history nerds.
📍 Read on the ice planet of Hoth
❗This was a Christmas 2024 gift from my roommate, who never misses on a book pick.
January 2, 2024
My first book of 2024, and a thoroughly enjoyable one. It is something I have wanted to read for a few years but finally an edition came out in my budget. The translation is excellent and is easy to follow and despite having so much information thrown at you, it really doesn’t feel that way at all. It was fascinating seeing Temujin’s and subsequently Mongolia’s rise from a small area to conquering such a vast area of land and how they went about it. Obviously there could be dome questions of the accuracy of the text but again it doesn’t feel that way and the translation feels very truthful and fair to what we historically know about Temujin and his rise to power under the name Genghis Khan.
I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire or Asian history in general.
I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire or Asian history in general.
June 21, 2025
"The Secret History of the Mongols" is an enjoyable, but interesting read. It covers the mythological ancestors of the Mongols up to the life of Genghis Khan and the early years under his son and successor, Ögedei Khan. Several stories and episodes are covered, both in the Mongol homelands and (with less reliability) abroad. At the same time, the meaning of the stories and/or elements in the stories are often not explicitly stated, making the endnotes (which should have been footnotes, but I digress) important to better understanding the book.
A must read for those interested in the Mongols. The Atwood translation is crisp and enjoyable and the Penguin edition with the introduction, appendices, and footnotes all help to better understand and appreciate the culture, meanings, and history.
A must read for those interested in the Mongols. The Atwood translation is crisp and enjoyable and the Penguin edition with the introduction, appendices, and footnotes all help to better understand and appreciate the culture, meanings, and history.
March 25, 2024
An exhilarating romp through the establishment of Chinggis Khan’s empire. A ‘secret’ history that gives glimpses of intimate family life, of the anda (boon friend) concept, extreme violence, vivid battle scenes, and an in-depth look at Mongol organization and regulations. Often difficult to read owing to the sheer accumulation of of names and places, but the translation is fluid and rewards close reading.
April 2, 2024
Read for uni. Kinda bangs? Like it exists historically to justify big CK as an all powerful, but there are some really good lines in here. There is very little description of environments and almost reads like Shakespeare, making it very dry if you aren’t fully aware of what is happening in that moment. Lot of names to remember too. I really liked it.
August 2, 2024
Rather a disappointment. I think Mongol society is currently beyond my grasp with names and locations slipping through my comprehension. As an epic it isn't. A little too flat and the poetry is very welcome but is more of an occasional distraction than an integral part of any narrative.
January 30, 2025
It was worth reading as a comparison as I had an experience of reading this book in Original or Mongolian version. Since I am Mongolian, I was glad that this version of Secret History of the Mongols was given me as a gift by my friend. Highly recommended.
March 23, 2026
Sometimes the translation sacrifices prose flow for accuracy so it at times feels clunky and unedited. In this case, I vastly prefer de Rachewiltz's translation but this is still more approachable and less academic for first-time readers of Secret History.
February 9, 2025
Murder. Treason. Gratitude. Homoeroticism. Horses. Strong women received zero credit. Excuses, excuses, excuses. Alcoholism. Fever. Cannibalism.
July 29, 2025
I respect the influence and history of this book but it just doesn’t read well.
December 12, 2025
Super interesting.
April 23, 2024
who doesn’t love a good old historical epic
January 30, 2026
2026: Reread with my Mongols class :)
I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this translation, which is more accessible than the older, more academicky translations that are burdened with endless notes, and really brings parts of the history to life. Life on the steppes can be quite dramatic, the cycles of violence can be graphic and feels quite visceral (especially when a lot of it is by hand and not via artillery and disembodied drones), where justice is strange to our sensibilities, and many scenes are emotionally charged. I'm reminded of how friendships and bonds are so much more intense than in our times, where oaths are kept, where flaking is considered dishonorable and has real consequences (and will lead to ostracization), where friendships are honored with proper ceremonies and have mutual responsibilities that are oftentimes risky (such as joining them in armed struggle) and not just characterized by feel-good-vibes, where loyalty is sacrosanct and honored, even when the person is loyal to your nemesis. What is interesting about this as a historical document is it is unlike a hagiography in that Chinggis does not always come off well, but nevertheless the account is preserved and transmitted.
The more I read old texts, the more I realize my values are ... premodern (minus the cycles of retaliative violence). There is something deeply exciting about living in a world that is unpredictable and ever shifting, where you never know what will happen, if you'll ever see a place or a person again, where fates can change depending on careful planning or a stroke of luck. You never know what would happen. You could become king of the world in 20 years, or dead in a ditch. You just never know... you never know.
I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this translation, which is more accessible than the older, more academicky translations that are burdened with endless notes, and really brings parts of the history to life. Life on the steppes can be quite dramatic, the cycles of violence can be graphic and feels quite visceral (especially when a lot of it is by hand and not via artillery and disembodied drones), where justice is strange to our sensibilities, and many scenes are emotionally charged. I'm reminded of how friendships and bonds are so much more intense than in our times, where oaths are kept, where flaking is considered dishonorable and has real consequences (and will lead to ostracization), where friendships are honored with proper ceremonies and have mutual responsibilities that are oftentimes risky (such as joining them in armed struggle) and not just characterized by feel-good-vibes, where loyalty is sacrosanct and honored, even when the person is loyal to your nemesis. What is interesting about this as a historical document is it is unlike a hagiography in that Chinggis does not always come off well, but nevertheless the account is preserved and transmitted.
The more I read old texts, the more I realize my values are ... premodern (minus the cycles of retaliative violence). There is something deeply exciting about living in a world that is unpredictable and ever shifting, where you never know what will happen, if you'll ever see a place or a person again, where fates can change depending on careful planning or a stroke of luck. You never know what would happen. You could become king of the world in 20 years, or dead in a ditch. You just never know... you never know.
March 7, 2025
„The secret history of the Mongols“ ist eine der wichtigsten Quellen zur Frühgeschichte der Mongolen und insbesondere zum Leben von Dschingis Khan. Doch während das Werk historisch äußerst wertvoll ist, stellt es für moderne Leser auch einige Herausforderungen dar.
Die Einleitung von Christopher Atwood ist ein großer Pluspunkt. Er erklärt zentrale Begriffe, ordnet das Werk in den historischen Kontext ein und bietet eine gute Grundlage, um das folgende Material besser zu verstehen. Gerade für Leser, die sich nicht intensiv mit der mongolischen Geschichte auskennen, ist diese Einführung hilfreich.
Der eigentliche Text des Secret History of the Mongols erweist sich jedoch als schwer zugänglich. Es werden viele Namen und Begriffe erwähnt, die für Laien schwer einzuordnen sind. Die Erzählstruktur ist oft sprunghaft, was das Verständnis zusätzlich erschwert. Ohne tiefere Vorkenntnisse fällt es schwer, den Überblick zu behalten und die verschiedenen Akteure auseinanderzuhalten.
Während die historische Bedeutung des Werks unbestreitbar ist, ist es keine leichte Lektüre. Die Einleitung von Atwood hilft, aber der Hauptteil bleibt aufgrund der Vielzahl an Namen und der komplexen Struktur herausfordernd. Wer sich intensiv mit der mongolischen Geschichte beschäftigen möchte, findet hier eine wertvolle Quelle – aber ohne begleitende Erklärungen kann das Lesen schnell mühsam werden.
Die Einleitung von Christopher Atwood ist ein großer Pluspunkt. Er erklärt zentrale Begriffe, ordnet das Werk in den historischen Kontext ein und bietet eine gute Grundlage, um das folgende Material besser zu verstehen. Gerade für Leser, die sich nicht intensiv mit der mongolischen Geschichte auskennen, ist diese Einführung hilfreich.
Der eigentliche Text des Secret History of the Mongols erweist sich jedoch als schwer zugänglich. Es werden viele Namen und Begriffe erwähnt, die für Laien schwer einzuordnen sind. Die Erzählstruktur ist oft sprunghaft, was das Verständnis zusätzlich erschwert. Ohne tiefere Vorkenntnisse fällt es schwer, den Überblick zu behalten und die verschiedenen Akteure auseinanderzuhalten.
Während die historische Bedeutung des Werks unbestreitbar ist, ist es keine leichte Lektüre. Die Einleitung von Atwood hilft, aber der Hauptteil bleibt aufgrund der Vielzahl an Namen und der komplexen Struktur herausfordernd. Wer sich intensiv mit der mongolischen Geschichte beschäftigen möchte, findet hier eine wertvolle Quelle – aber ohne begleitende Erklärungen kann das Lesen schnell mühsam werden.
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