The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (Penguin Classics)
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Product Description
Product Description
Ostensibly written by an English knight, the Travels purport to relate his experiences in the Holy Land, Egypt, India and China. Mandeville claims to have served in the Great Khan's army, and to have travelled in 'the lands beyond' - countries populated by dog-headed men, cannibals, Amazons and Pygmies. Although Marco Polo's slightly earlier narrative ultimately proved more factually accurate, Mandeville's was widely known, used by Columbus, Leonardo da Vinci and Martin Frobisher, and inspiring writers as diverse as Swift, Defoe and Coleridge. This intriguing blend of fact, exaggeration and absurdity offers both fascinating insight into and subtle criticism of fourteenth-century conceptions of the world.
About the Author
Sir John Mandeville left his native St Albans in 1322 and died in Liege in 1372.
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First Sentence
In the name of God Almighty: he who wants to pass over the sea to Jerusalem, may go by many ways, both by sea and by land depending on the countries he comes from; many ways come to a single end. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
In the name of God Almighty: he who wants to pass over the sea to Jerusalem, may go by many ways, both by sea and by land depending on the countries he comes from; many ways come to a single end. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I cannot hide my bias about this book; it is my absolute favourite. One of the major differences between ourselves and the Medieval World was the notion of the East and the concept of otherness. The World Sir John Mandeville chronicled was the World we see on antique maps, there is scant regard for topographical accuracy but a wonderful mixture of beasts and monsters. There is controversy as to whether this 'Knight' ever ventured anywhere, some even believe that the name itself is made up. All these issues add to the mystery and sense of adventure in what must be one of the World's first travel books.
In our 'Age of Reason' we try to explain everything using rational methods and scientific experiment, this book succeeds in doing the opposite. We are introduced to unknown exotica with wonderfully descriptive prose, without our technical vocabulary and jargon the foreign lands and peoples really come to life. Once you have read this book you can enter into the debate as to who this mysterious man was and if he did exist... then where did he actually go? If you reach this stage then you need to get a copy of Giles Milton's 'Riddle and the Knight'.
In our 'Age of Reason' we try to explain everything using rational methods and scientific experiment, this book succeeds in doing the opposite. We are introduced to unknown exotica with wonderfully descriptive prose, without our technical vocabulary and jargon the foreign lands and peoples really come to life. Once you have read this book you can enter into the debate as to who this mysterious man was and if he did exist... then where did he actually go? If you reach this stage then you need to get a copy of Giles Milton's 'Riddle and the Knight'.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"The travels of Sir John Mandeville" tells the story of Mandeville's travels around the then known world in the 14th century. It provides a fascinating glimpse of a medieval world and medieval worldview. World famous are the descriptions of people with only one big foot, or with dog heads, but the book is full of many great little stories, making it a joy to read.
The book did inspire generations of explorers to reach out beyond their realm. Many explorers used Mandeville's book as a source of knowledge in their discoveries of the world. As such, this is one of the more influential books in world history, and is even today used as a source of inspiration for writers. Milton's "The riddle and the knight" and Eco's "Baudolino" are just two examples of recent books triggered by Mandeville's stories that spring to mind.
The writing style is very recognizable as Medieval. The introduction and explanatory notes from C. Moseley are worthwhile reading as well, because they put the story into context and reveal some hidden information and text analysis.
For anybody interested in medieval history and fantasy stories, this is a little gem of a book.
The book did inspire generations of explorers to reach out beyond their realm. Many explorers used Mandeville's book as a source of knowledge in their discoveries of the world. As such, this is one of the more influential books in world history, and is even today used as a source of inspiration for writers. Milton's "The riddle and the knight" and Eco's "Baudolino" are just two examples of recent books triggered by Mandeville's stories that spring to mind.
The writing style is very recognizable as Medieval. The introduction and explanatory notes from C. Moseley are worthwhile reading as well, because they put the story into context and reveal some hidden information and text analysis.
For anybody interested in medieval history and fantasy stories, this is a little gem of a book.
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Mandeville's 'Travels' was a medieval best-seller, a fiction of a guide to the world beyond our shores. He conjures up fantastical beasts and societies no one had ever seen, a product of his fertile imagination rather than of any garnered intelligence or experience of travel. Anyone wanting to understand the medieval mind, and its fear that the world beyond the next hill might be a terrifying place, should read Mandeville; as should anyone wanting to write fantasy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
medieval best-seller
I bought this book to use as a 'lonely planet' style guide to world travel and it's served me very well indeed.
Published 7 months ago by Mr. G. S. Napthine
Gullible's travels
Gadzooks! Has EVERYONE forgotten that this book (published on April 1st 1983) was the Penguin spoof that completely 'took in' Kenneth Tynan and ended his career with an echoing... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Sporus
Course Study
A very enoyable read. Althoug bought for course study, this book turned out to be a gem of enertainment - all travel literature should be like this.
Published on 1 Mar 2009 by Mrs. Stephanie Fox
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