The Travels of Marco Polo

Marco Polo (c. 1300), many times republished

THE A5 BOOK REVIEW

One of the oldest and most historically important travel books is The Travels of Marco Polo, a 13th century travelogue describing the legendary Venetian trader’s many voyages around the world.  This book had a powerful legacy for future explorers, apparently helping inspire Christopher Columbus’ decision to travel westward to try to find a new route to Asia.  The original author was Rustichello da Pisa, who wrote down these stories when imprisoned with Marco Polo in Genoa.  There are four total books; one recounting Polo's travels in the Middle East and Central Asia, one on China and his experiences in the court of Kublai Khan, one covering Japan, India and other regions in Southeast Asia, and one describing wars among the Mongols and Russia.  The book was created before the invention of printing, and subsequently only about 150 copies in various languages are known to still exist.
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A5 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE WHO LIKED THIS BOOK
In Xanadu is a wonderful travelogue by William Dalrymple, who in 1989 as a college student retraces the steps of Marco Polo.  This book is one of our top recommendations.  Those who like the stories of legendary explorers might also like Homer's The Odyssey or the outstanding book recapping the travels of Captain James Cook.  Marco Polo Didn't Go There doesn't really have anything to do with Marco Polo exactly, but it is a good collection of travel writing from Rolf Potts.

FAMOUS EDITIONS OF THE TRAVELS OF MARCO POLO

picture of notes written by Christopher Columbus in The Travels of Marco Polo
Marco Polo's tales of the Far East and its riches is said to have inspired Christopher Columbus, as evidenced by the heavily annotated book found as part of his belongings.  The picture to the left shows his notes in the Latin edition of Marco Polo's Le livre des merveilles.  About 150 copies of The Travels of Marco Polo in various languages are known to exist.  
PHOTO: By Marco Polo with handwritten notes and sketches by Christopher Columbus [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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MARCO POLO, FROM THE BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL