The Travels (Penguin Clothbound Classics)

Beautifully printed and bound. This classic travel account is one you can pick up and put down whenever you like without getting lost. Fascinating tale of travel when it was done on horseback and by ship.

This is a recent translation with the emphasis on a modern and readable style. Actually, even 18th century travel books written in English are usually quite readable, but at least until recently translations seemed to try to be unreadable - sort of "maybe you get to read this, but by heck you're not going to enjoy it". But this is a real pleasure to read, and comes across as the account of an engaging story teller with an enquiring and open mind.

I read the review telling the repetitive phrases of "I will tell you," " what should I tell you?" and " That's what I will tell you later," etc., too often in the book. That is true. I guess it is because the story was TOLD by Marco to Rustichello while they were in prison. Then, Rustichello was retelling the story he did hear in this book. Many repetitions of the same descriptions are everywhere, esp., the battle scenes and the provinces. This may make some readers bored. Yet, I imagined as if I was listening someone telling a story in front of me. The good thing is the "ease" to read on and "quickness" to turn pages. Another reviewer said there was no maps provided, yet I saw three maps in the book (paperback version). Maps are great help especially reading travel books. I had hard time with the city names in Manzi and Cathay. Some are similar like Quezhou, Fuzhou, Chuzhou, Quanzhou, etc. Additionally, these names are not used presently (ex. Xingzai, Wuzhou, etc.) ., so finding the map online would not help. The map printed in the book may not show the rivers and cities talked about in the book. These made my brain confused... Anyway, I am glad I read through this historically valued book in the Medieval age.

This is a very well done version of a great classic. Nicely bound, well-put-together, a pleasure to read.

The care of the language used, the copious meticulous notes, the comparison between the different versions of the book and the excellent maps make this edition a winner.

Great to read Marco Polo’s travels and description of the areas traveled.Seems not much has changed since then.

GOOD. Story Good. Book

Many things pique my skepticism about this book. First is Marco's description of an enormous bird that can pick up an elephant and fly away with it in its claws. Second is the vernacular, which seems contemporary rather than the flowery writing of the 13th century.Nevertheless, it is an interesting, although repetitive, book that enlightens us about events of that time. Although I am not religious, I believe one such matter was the Catholic Church and its wish to convert Kubalai Khan to Christianity. The Great Khan was quite interested in the Christian faith; had the Pope's emissaries traveled to his court to present the gospel, the world might have been much different and, I am sure, far less violent. A papal embassy did, it is true, set out on that journey but turned back due to the hardships of travel. It might have been history's most significant geo-political event if they persevered and successfully brought the Great Khan into the Christian fold - a civilizational progress of inestimable consequence.

Content is accurate and quality of the book is amazing♥️

Not only is this book brilliant, but its a beautiful edition. Am very very glad I bought this one and not the paperback. Very glad indeed.

The book is interesting for what it represents, but the way it's written is simply horrible. Throughout the book you have the impression that he's repeating the same thing for many of the places he is talking about. The "I've told you this, now I'll tell you about this" thing is quite annoying also.But there are many interesting things in the book despite the way it's written, which makes you go through the book and still enjoy it.

Zum Inhalt kanb ich wenig sagen weil es sich um ein Geschenk handelte. Aber das Buch macht in dem Leineneinband einen schönen, wertigen Eindruck.