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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
After watching the Netflix show 'Marco Polo', I gained a newfound interest in the history of the Mongol empire and thought reading this book would be a great start.
I must start off with a warning. If you expect a more streamlined story of Marco Polo's journey, then you'll be gravely disappointed. Of course I never expected this travel journal to be a consecutive story with twists and turns like in a television show, but I also did not expect it to be so repetitive and, dare I say, at times boring?
There were a lot of little stories about the different cultures Marco Polo encountered, and these were really interesting and often quite fun to read. However, he often had the tendency to go into detail for every little village he came across and only told the same information multiple times. It almost became hilarious in my opinion.
Despite this (in my eyes) glaring obstacle, I quite enjoyed the book. Some things he told were so fantastical that it seemed more like a fairy tale but it still offers you more insight into the lives of the people in that time period, which was the main reason for reading this book. It remains interesting to see how all these cultures experienced through the eyes of someone whose own upbringing was so removed from this part of the world.
I must start off with a warning. If you expect a more streamlined story of Marco Polo's journey, then you'll be gravely disappointed. Of course I never expected this travel journal to be a consecutive story with twists and turns like in a television show, but I also did not expect it to be so repetitive and, dare I say, at times boring?
There were a lot of little stories about the different cultures Marco Polo encountered, and these were really interesting and often quite fun to read. However, he often had the tendency to go into detail for every little village he came across and only told the same information multiple times. It almost became hilarious in my opinion.
Despite this (in my eyes) glaring obstacle, I quite enjoyed the book. Some things he told were so fantastical that it seemed more like a fairy tale but it still offers you more insight into the lives of the people in that time period, which was the main reason for reading this book. It remains interesting to see how all these cultures experienced through the eyes of someone whose own upbringing was so removed from this part of the world.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Though Messer Marco was not the first person to walk on the silk road let alone document his journey, yet this is perhaps one of the most influential works of literature of its generation. Reading it now in the 21st-century one should adjust their eyes and thoughts to that of a 13th-century European traveler. I recommend reading the introduction by Nigel Cliff to set your expectations and let yourself be enchanted by the travelogue of epic scale even by today's standards.
It may at times seem that this book was written from a merchant's insight, you also need to remind yourself that most notes Marco made were written to report back to the Great Khan who was perhaps curious about the riches of the land that he ruled and Marco never imagined he would ever return to Venice. And yet between passages that mention names of cities and tells us there is nothing further important to speak of it there are beautiful descriptions of lands and their customs and tales of myth and history that reveal so much about the places he traveled through and stories of places he heard from other travelers he met on his journey especially the bits about eastern Africa.
As a modern-day reader you may find yourself wanting descriptions of human interactions or Marco's journey within, but alas his travels speak little to nothing of it.
Grab a map, be prepared to read the footnotes, it will not always be an easy read but still a fulfilling one that would fill your mind with adventure.
It may at times seem that this book was written from a merchant's insight, you also need to remind yourself that most notes Marco made were written to report back to the Great Khan who was perhaps curious about the riches of the land that he ruled and Marco never imagined he would ever return to Venice. And yet between passages that mention names of cities and tells us there is nothing further important to speak of it there are beautiful descriptions of lands and their customs and tales of myth and history that reveal so much about the places he traveled through and stories of places he heard from other travelers he met on his journey especially the bits about eastern Africa.
As a modern-day reader you may find yourself wanting descriptions of human interactions or Marco's journey within, but alas his travels speak little to nothing of it.
Grab a map, be prepared to read the footnotes, it will not always be an easy read but still a fulfilling one that would fill your mind with adventure.
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
medium-paced
As far as writers in the Middle Ages go (and that’s a huge qualifier), Polo is pretty accepting/respectful of other cultures.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced