This is the haunting story of a 12-year-old Tartar in Tamburlaine's Mongol army, a travelling horde of warriors who cross India without mercy, leaving death and destruction in their wake. McCaughrean draws the reader deep into a violent part of Indian history weaving a vivid story of a slowly growing friendship, risk and danger.
Tamburlaine, a phrase derived from "Timur The Lame", is a vainglorious emperor, Conqueror of the World, who despite being physically tiny and crooked is considered a great Emir. He is much feared for his expansionist foreign policy, his warmongering and his heartlessness.
The book begins with Rusti who has grown up waiting to become one of the fearless warriors, killing, pillaging and looting for the honour of the Horde. Outside Delhi, now twelve years old, he is excited to be riding out into battle for the first time. However, by a sheer twist of fate Rusti becomes the keeper of the captured elephants from Delhi and their original Indian counterpart, a kajik boy called Kavi who is of similar age to Rusti.
The seeds of a friendship are sown between Rusti and Kavi who should be sworn enemies. Rusti also begins to form a relationship with the elephants they tend though they are generally viewed as vast monsters by the Mongols. When they meet again, Kavi is in danger and masquerading as a young slave girl, and Rusti takes a risk and takes him on.
Through meeting the Events Chronicler Rusti discovers his own history holds secrets he wishes to unlock. He slowly becomes aware of the awful savagery of battle and the unneccessary bloodshed of massacres. He gradually see the terrible human cost of war, the hate that is left in the hearts of those who have beheld it and the driving desire for revenge.
The book is cleverly written so that although Rusti and the important Events Chronicler appear to be lauding and glorifying Tambarlaine's deeds, the reader forms their own conflicting opinion of the great warmonger and the terrible deeds he performs.
Also, despite the grim horror of the unfolding story there's a wry smile here and there. There's underlying irony used in the chronicling of the events, the misunderstood conversations between Rusti and Kavi when they are thrown together for the second time, and Rusti's comically awful first wife Borte.
Given the grim setting, I was pleased that Tamburlaine's Elephants ends on a light-hearted and humorous note: Rusti is happily settled looking after his elephants with a new sweet wife.
The book is a quicker and easier read than The Kite Rider or Peter Pan in Scarlet, but every bit as compelling - Guaranteed to last the test of time.
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