Book of the marvels of the world in english commonly called the travels of marco polo, is a thcentury travelogue written down by rustichello da pisa from. He jocularly said i did not write half of what i saw, for i. How marco polo went to china marco polo was born in venice in the year 1254. Polo explores everywhere from baghdad, armenia and russia to the caspian sea, the gobi desert and the small fishing villages of china, describing the geography, architecture and customs of these exotic places. Colin thubron is an awardwinning author of novels and travel books, including behind the wall. Page 115 our notice of those portions of polo s travels which deal with countries other than china must be very brief. The polos traveled thousands of miles through unknown and hostile territory in order to reach lands hitherto only vaguely rumored to exist. Marco polos travels along the silk road marco polo in venice marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have journeyed across asia at the height of the mongol empire. They traveled the silk road to china where he met the great ruler kublai khan. Travel and topography nineteenth century collections online. Nov 21, 2003 the travels of marco polo, translated by william marsden norton.
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. A journey through china and shadow of the silk road. He isone of the few early adventurers whose name nearly everyone knows. The thcentury book by rustichello book of the marvels of the world later know as the travels of marco polo was a bestseller and had a huge impact on medieval and early modern explorers, missionaries, and merchants. This description of his travels and stays in the orient, including asia, persia, china, and indonesia, between 1271 and 1298 is also known as. His account of those travels, known in english as the travels of marco polo, is a classic. Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first bestsellers. Marco polo also revealed the wonders of xanadu, the summer capital of mongol emperor kublai khan. Marco polo september 15, 1254 january 9, 24 was a venetian merchant traveler whose travels are recorded in il milione the millions, now known as the travels of marco polo, a book which did much to introduce europeans to central asia and china. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from. Marco polo 125429 has achieved an almost archetypal status as a traveller, and his travels is one of the first great travel books of western literature. It is the story of a drainage engineer called henry yule in the 1800s.
He wrote his famous travels whilst a prisoner in genoa. He was one of the first europeans to explore central asia and east asia. There are notorious descriptions in the book of men with the heads of dogs. His father, nicolo, and his uncle, maffeo, were merchants who had seats in the great council and were enrolled with the noblemen of venice. Of the deeds of kublai khan, the emperor now reigning polo relates how the title of kublai khan translates into english as lord of lords 1844 and says that the great khan deserves that title for in respect to number of subjects, extent of territory, and amount of revenue, he. The travels of marco polo complete mobi classics ebook. I wanted to read marco polo s travels in a good english translation, with accompanying medieval illustrations and modern photos and references to the places and events mentioned, and thats exactly what this book provides. The book the travels of marco polo was a bestseller and was read throughout europe. Marco was later released and returned to his native venice. He is the author of a number of books, including a harvest of world folk tales, marco polos adventures in china, the great travelers, and the beechers.
He wrote his famous travels after returning home, whilst a prisoner in genoa. Polo continued to trade but he never again left his home city and he died in 24. Almost 750 years later, acclaimed author john man traveled in marco polos footsteps to xanadu then on to beijing and through modern china in search of the history behind the legend. Marco polo, the great explorer, recorded seeing dragons while. Full text of the travels of marco polo the venetian see other formats. Marco polo was born in 1254, joining his father on a journey to china in 1271. The travels of marco polo is the classic account of marco polo s journey to china from venice, and his discoveries as an emissary to the great kublai khan. Marco polo, the great explorer, recorded seeing dragons. Marco polo travelled to china in 1271 and spent the next twenty years in the service of kublai khan. Marco polo, europes greatest ever traveller, suffered badly. Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first best. Marco polo 125429 has achieved an almost archetypal status as a t. On his return to the west he was made a prisoner of war and met rustichello of pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book.
Marco polos reports offered the ideal background for illustration, as people in europe had always been curious to know about the marvels of the. Like someone spinning a yarn of his adventures as an intergalactic warrior in the far reaches of outer space, polo told a tale that was almost mythical yet in most particulars absolutely true and accurate. Sadly this book seems to have little or nothing to do with marco polo. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china, after which he served the kublai khan on. In armenia he found petroleum, of which there was a fountain whence rises oil in such abundance, that a hundred ships might be at once loaded with it. A sparkling new translation of one of the greatest travel books ever written. The travels of marco polo classics of world literature. Marco polo was born in 1254 and died on january 8,24. The travels of marco polo in china and central asia duration. Marco polo and his travels have had a very large cultural influence on the western world. Marco polo was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in asia.
Introduction marco polo was a merchant in venice before he became the famous explorer we know today. Nigel cliff was previously a theatre and film critic for the times and a regular writer for the economist, among other publications, and now writes historical nonfiction books. Marco polo was known for the book, travels of marco polo, where he talked. Marco polos reports offered the ideal background for illustration, as people in europe had always been curious to know about the marvels. Dec 03, 2019 marco polo was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in asia. The travels by marco polo meet your next favorite book.
The travels of marco polo is one of a handful of books that can truly be said to have changed the world. May 31, 2018 the travels of marco polo born in venice in 1254 marco polo travelled with his father and uncle to asia and chronicled his travels. There are also stories and various documents which point to his ancestry originating in korcula, croatia. Marco also had another uncle who lived in constantinople and crimea and was engaged in commerce. Everyman s library edited by ernest rhys travel and topography marco polo s travels with an introduction by john masefield the publishers of jlbefr will be pleased to send freely to all applicants a list of the published and projected volumes to be comprised under. Sep 10, 2019 in the englishspeaking world, the book is often known as the travels of marco polo. Marco polo was the most famous traveller of his time. The travels of marco polo book 2, chapters 4 summary. The quality is outstanding, the text, illustrations etc.
The travels of marco polo born in venice in 1254 marco polo travelled with his father and uncle to asia and chronicled his travels. He recorded his adventures in a book published as the travels of marco polo. The text is comprised of a prologue and four subsequent books. The travels of marco polo issue 306 of everymans library issue 306 of everymans library. The book was cowritten by rustichello da pisa, an italian writer who met polo while the two were in prison in genoa, italy. This superb book is exactly what i was looking for. There is evidence that marco travelled extensively in the mongol empire and it is fairly certain he visited india.
Marco polo is the great khans emissary who is commissioned to travel throughout his empire. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and. Marco polo was known for the book, travels of marco polo, where he talked about asia. The travels of marco polo complete mobi classics ebook by. While in captivity, he dictated the travels of marco polo to a fellow prisoner. The travels of marco polo by marco polo, alex struik. The travels of marco polo is the classic account of marco polos journey to china from venice, and his discoveries as an emissary to the great kublai khan. He spent the next twenty years travelling in the service of kublai khan. Milton rugoff was a longtime editor for several publishing houses. His travels are recorded in the travels of marco polo also known as book of the marvels of the world and il milione, c.
A sparkling new translation of the most famous travel book ever written marco polos voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china. Almost 750 years later, acclaimed author john man traveled in marco polo s footsteps to xanadu then on to beijing and through modern china in search of the history behind the legend. The book,the travels of marco polo, is the written record which chronicles the adventures and travels that marco polo experienced while exploring the eastern world. Written in the th century, the travels of marco polo details italian explorer marco polos movements through asia between 1271 and 1295. The illuminated manuscript on marco polos fascinating and adventurous travels ranks among the most famous manuscripts of the middle ages and is considered a highlight of french book decoration.
Full text of the travels of marco polo the venetian. Marco traveled much of china and the east, and his stories were written into a. Marco polo was supposedly born in the venetian republic, in what is now venice, italy. The travels of marco polo has many of the stylistic characteristics of the pisan writers earlier works. Page 115 our notice of those portions of polos travels which deal with countries other than china must be very brief. Afterward, he served kublai khan on numerous diplomatic missions in the far east. This is not merely another adventure story, it is the adventure story of all time. The million, deriving from polo s nickname emilione, in english commonly called the travels of marco polo, is a thcentury travelogue written down by rustichello da pisa from stories told by italian explorer marco polo, describing polo s travels through asia between 1271 and 1295, and his experiences at the court of kublai khan. Marco polo set off on his travels from venice as a young man in 1271, and returned home in 1295 after spending 24 years away, 17 of them in china. Many other explorers, including christopher columbus, looked up to him. The book, the travels of marco polo, is the written record which chronicles the adventures and travels that marco polo experienced while exploring the eastern world. His book was one of the bestloved works of the middle ages, and has remained popular ever since. In the englishspeaking world, the book is often known as the travels of marco polo.
Rarely have secular topics had such an intensive echo. There are some references to marvels and fabulous stories in the narrative of the italian. Marco polo author marco polo was born in 1254, joining his father on a journey to china in 1271. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa free ebook project gutenberg. Marco polo simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The wealth of new geographic information recorded by polo was widely used by european navigators. Complete by marco polo and rustichello of pisa, translated by henry yulethe travels of marco polo is the usual english title of marco polos travel book, nicknamed il milione or le livre des merveilles the book of wonders. Marco polo is sent to investigate and report back his findings about people, customs, culture, climate, flora and fauna, game, birds and. Marco polo, venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from europe to asia in 127195, remaining in china for 17 of those years. The travels of marco polo great tales from long ago by felicity trotman, daniel woods and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. View images title page of a 1503 spanish edition of the travels of marco polo. Polos remarkable story became a hugely influential book, the travels of marco polo. In part 2, chapter 40, marco polo reports what he describes as huge serpents. The travels of marco polo presents a broad and wideranging panorama of kubilai khans thirteenth century empire. Marco polo was a thirteenthcentury venetian explorer, arguably the worlds most welltraveled explorer, and the travels of marco polo chronicles his journey through asia as a special envoy to. Jan 01, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.