THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S

by Taylor Caldwell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 6, 1941

It is an interesting commentary on the recurrent pattern of history, that Taylor Caldwell should shift focus from the munitions industry in the United States (Dynasty of Death and The Eagles Gather) to a biographical novel based on Genghis Khan, the first ruthless barbarian of the Far East to set his stamp upon a world. In time, the story fits into harold Lamb's March of the Barbarians, as a more detailed biography of the first of his Mongol leaders. There is less of history and more of story, imagined, dramatized, brought into vigorous being. It is a grand story, and she makes us see how, step by step, through those who loved him and those who hated him, Genghis Khan (the Temujin of her story) he achieved his chieftainship, organized his power, swept across the Gobi desert, Mongolia and Turkestan, conquering, cowing, absorbing all as he went. She succeeds in making us see his humanity and his wisdom, along with his ruthlessness and his unrelenting ambition. It is interesting to see how the slender thread of Christianity is introduced. The success of Lamb's more serious historical work, plus Taylor Caldwell's sensational success with her modern novels, should give this the impetus it needs. As a piece of oraftsmanship, it seems to me the best writing she has done.

Pub Date: Jan. 6, 1941

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Scribner

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 1940

Categories: FICTION