Ratchnevsky (emeritus, sinology, Humboldt U., Germany) presents a critical synthesis of the often-contradictory primary literature on the founder of the Mongol Empire in order to formulate what he sees as the most plausible narrative of the life of Genghis Khan (1162-1227). Naturally, much of the work is devoted to Genghis Khan's wars of conquest, but significant attention is paid to the political and organizational abilities that allowed his empire to outlast him by over a century. This work was first published in Germany as Cinggis-Khan: Sein Leben und Wirken (1983). Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)