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A review by mehul_dhikonia
The Travels by Marco Polo
4.0
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.