Tamerlane (1336-1405)-the tartar successor to Genghis Khan-ranks with Alexander the Great as one of the worlds greatest conquerors. His armies were ferocious, feared throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe. They blazed through Asia like a firestorm, razing cities, torturing captives, and massacring enemies. Anyone who dared defy Tamerlane was likely decapitated, and towers of bloody heads soon became chilling monuments to his power throughout Central Asia. By the end of his life, Tamerlane had imposed his iron rule, as well as a refined culture, over a vast territory-from Syria to India, from Siberia to the Mediterranean. Justin Marozzi traveled in the footsteps of this infamous and enigmatic emperor of Samarkand (in modern Uzbekistan) to tell the story of this cruel, cultivated, and powerful warrior.
Tamerlane
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‘Using many contemporary sources, Marozzi creates a convincing portrait of a complex man…An engaging mixture of history, travelogue and contemporary reportage. Well written and skilfully put together.’ Jonathan Sumption, Sunday Telegraph, Books of the Year
‘He has brought the mighty warrior in from the cold and allowed him to stalk these pages with bloody magnificence.’ Sunday Times
‘Walking…about the dazzling buildings that are Tamur’s legacy, [Marozzi] brilliantly conveys how everything goes in cycles, both in nature and in human affairs.’ Daily Telegraph
‘Excellent…Provides a superbly rounded and vivid portrait of one of history’s most fascinating personalities.’ Evening Standard
‘As well researched in libraries as with boots on the ground in some of the world’s more impenetrable places, this is a fine study of a neglected but linchpin historical figure.’ Daily Mail
‘Robust, enthusiastic and richly detailed…full of fascinating, if often gruesome, anecdotes.’ Literary Review
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.About the Author
Justin Marozzi is contributing editor of the Spectator. He used to sell tobacco to Libya and was the Financial Times’s correspondent in the Philippines for two years. He writes regularly for the Financial Times and has also written for The Times and The Economist and broadcast for the BBC World Service and Radio Four. He is the author of South from Barbary, an account of a journey along the old slave routes of the Libyan Sahara.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By Chandler
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The empire of Tamerlane stands alongside that of Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan as the greatest conquests by one ruler. Together with Genghis and perhaps Ivan the Terrible, Tamerlane is also one of the great butchers of history before the twentieth century.
However, beyond the rarely staged play by Marlow, Tamer's place in history had been largely neglected. With the assistance of few source materials, but with the benefit of travelling through central asia to cities such as Herat, Samarkand, Damascus etc, Marozzi has written a compelling account of this extraordinary ruler, which I would recommend to anyone with an interest in history or indeed in contemporary politics. Whilst the savagery of Tamerlane's conquests are well captured, Marozzi also makes an interesting case for the cultural impact of Tamerlane and his beloved capital Samarkand.
However, beyond the rarely staged play by Marlow, Tamer's place in history had been largely neglected. With the assistance of few source materials, but with the benefit of travelling through central asia to cities such as Herat, Samarkand, Damascus etc, Marozzi has written a compelling account of this extraordinary ruler, which I would recommend to anyone with an interest in history or indeed in contemporary politics. Whilst the savagery of Tamerlane's conquests are well captured, Marozzi also makes an interesting case for the cultural impact of Tamerlane and his beloved capital Samarkand.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An interesting subject but, in my opinion, a very irritating book to read. As mentioned by another reviewer, it keeps shooting off at what seem, at times, totally irrelevant tangents, i.e. Marlowe's "Tamburlaine" up to and including a recent London production, interesting perhaps but one tends to lose the thread of the narrative. The "travel" sections were also disappointing, certainly not on a par with, say, Jason Elliot. All in all, while I certainly learnt quite a lot about Tamerlane, I found the book rather disappointing.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By J. Duducu
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
When people talk of the greatest generals of all time in the West it invariably boils down to Napoleon or Alexander the great. Some may point towards the like of Genghis Khan, however all pale into comparison to Tamerlane (correct name Temur).
Alexander was undefeated in 8 years, Tamerlane undefeated in 30.
This is a man who went from nothing to creating one of the largest empires the world has ever seen, all in one lifetime. He successfully captured the likes of Delhi and Moscow and even had the Ottoman Sultan locked into a cage after a key battle. Added to this fact is in early adulthood he suffered injuries that led to him not being able to use 1 arm and 1 leg (hence how Temur the lame got mangled to Tamerlane or Tamburlane). Yet he was still a fearsome warlord just further adds to this amazing tale.
Justin Marozzi however does not shy away from the other side of all war mongers- death and destruction, because just like all steppe nomad warlords, unless capitulation was total and immediate then horrific acts of barbarity ensued. Indeed where as Attila was the start of the period of invasion from the steppe nomads, Tamerlane nearly a thousand years later was to be the last however the barbaric treatment of various civilian populations (particularly in Persia) are not forgotten or glossed over.
There is a careful balance between the man and the campaigns, between the Timurid society and the details of war. The use of source materials from all over the world is highly impressive and really brings the man alive, flaws and all. It is first and foremost a cracking read which really sucks you in and the story is so much larger than life that you can't wait for the next ludicrous (but true) turn of events.... Read more ›
Alexander was undefeated in 8 years, Tamerlane undefeated in 30.
This is a man who went from nothing to creating one of the largest empires the world has ever seen, all in one lifetime. He successfully captured the likes of Delhi and Moscow and even had the Ottoman Sultan locked into a cage after a key battle. Added to this fact is in early adulthood he suffered injuries that led to him not being able to use 1 arm and 1 leg (hence how Temur the lame got mangled to Tamerlane or Tamburlane). Yet he was still a fearsome warlord just further adds to this amazing tale.
Justin Marozzi however does not shy away from the other side of all war mongers- death and destruction, because just like all steppe nomad warlords, unless capitulation was total and immediate then horrific acts of barbarity ensued. Indeed where as Attila was the start of the period of invasion from the steppe nomads, Tamerlane nearly a thousand years later was to be the last however the barbaric treatment of various civilian populations (particularly in Persia) are not forgotten or glossed over.
There is a careful balance between the man and the campaigns, between the Timurid society and the details of war. The use of source materials from all over the world is highly impressive and really brings the man alive, flaws and all. It is first and foremost a cracking read which really sucks you in and the story is so much larger than life that you can't wait for the next ludicrous (but true) turn of events.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By bh1986
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed the story of Tamerlane and have read brief accounts of his life in other books. This book unfortunately was a real let down and very hard to keep interested in. The author spends more time on his travels and the buildings he visited, most of this content has no relation to Tamerlane whatsoever. He also spends a lot of time on Marlowe's play which, as the author himself states, is not a great reflection of the life of Tamerlane. He also places these useless sections at regular intervals which really breaks up the story and makes it very hard to read.
Sadly I feel the author didn't have enough to write about to fill a book but I would have preferred a 200 page really interesting account of Tamerlane's life than the extra waste of words.
Sadly I feel the author didn't have enough to write about to fill a book but I would have preferred a 200 page really interesting account of Tamerlane's life than the extra waste of words.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A brilliant piece of history about a great conqueror few seem to know much about.The book covers relevant history of the period really well and gives excellent accounts of the current situation. One of the best history books I have read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By P. Kane
Format:Paperback
I found the book to be compelling when it is being factual - the stories of the battles, for example, had me glued to the page. In fact, I was left hungry for more information of this type.
But when discussing the legacy of Temur, the text is too verbose, too flowery in its language and several pages too long, for my liking anyway. And the switch between the two types of text is often abrupt, which I found very frustrating.
But when discussing the legacy of Temur, the text is too verbose, too flowery in its language and several pages too long, for my liking anyway. And the switch between the two types of text is often abrupt, which I found very frustrating.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Temur the Lame made Genghis Khan look a bit Lib-Dem. Countries and regions he ravished, including chunks of Afghanistan still haven't recovered to this day.
His tactics in Afghanistan were very effective, although they did involve building towers of skulls, so are unlikely to be adopted by NATO.
The book casts light into an area and time which I knew little about (apart from reading Marlowe at school). Marozzi, like John Mann, is a historian who likes to tread in his subject's footsteps which gives a real insight and perspective.
His tactics in Afghanistan were very effective, although they did involve building towers of skulls, so are unlikely to be adopted by NATO.
The book casts light into an area and time which I knew little about (apart from reading Marlowe at school). Marozzi, like John Mann, is a historian who likes to tread in his subject's footsteps which gives a real insight and perspective.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book
Great thanks, seller highly recommeded! A present to someone who is very interested in historical figures...A good addition to the lot he already has. Thanks!
Published 1 month ago by Ms Indy Mair
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thanks!
Thank you for ppl who put contribution for coming out this book. Really very interesting regarding of history of Amir Timur! Read more
Published 17 months ago by Jony
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excitng and entertaining. Brilliant book!
A very good read. The information is brilliant. Justin Marozzi is a superb writer. Very informative. Read it twice will read again!
Published 19 months ago by Raj
5.0 out of 5 stars
a great find
i had never before heard of Tamerlane before i saw this book, and after reading the synopsis i thought this could be very interesting indeed. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2010 by rob_hawke
3.0 out of 5 stars
Tamerlane Sword of Islam Conqueror of the World
Very interesting subject. Narrative tended to go off on tangents on occassion, which detracted from the focus on Temur's life e.g. Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2010
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tamerlane: Sword of Islam, Conqueror of the World
Absulutely fascinating story and a great insight into Central Asia, bringing it to life. Well written and a fairly fluid read, logical and insightful.
Published on 20 Dec 2009 by Lydia Everitt
4.0 out of 5 stars
efficient history and biography of a major world force
This is a very good book, a highly efficient biography (in so far as this can be achieved) and history of the Emperor Timur/Tamerlane, about whose astonishing conquests in vast... Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2009 by maryleopard
2.0 out of 5 stars
Too good a character for such a boring book
I didn't knew the history of Amir Temur before reading this book and I am grateful that it introduced such an interesting historical character to me, this is the reason for the 2... Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2008 by L. Pasta
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