In mid-twelfth century Mongolia, a baby boy was born clutching a blood clot in his fist, a sign portending future greatness and power. As a young man, against horrific odds, he rose from poverty, slavery, and obscurity to build the world's largest contiguous land empire. His father named him Temüjin, but he became known to the world as Genghis Khan. Forger of Empire, by Jeanne Maxant Blanchet, PhD, is based on the shrewd, brutal conqueror's incredible story. Rare is the book on the military warrior and political leader that does not focus on his legendary career or sex life (he had over 500 wives and concubines, not to mention multiple casual liasons). Blanchet's Forger of Empire breathes new life into the already larger-than-life character by focusing on his personality development and psychological strengths and weaknesses. With Blanchet's skilled and knowledgeable guidance, lovers of historical fiction and adventure novels will thrill at getting a fictionalized look at the "man behind the mask."