The Travels of Marco Polo (Library of the Century)

Author: (Italian) Marco Polo (Polo, M.) Author, Feng Chengjun Translator
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: Based on the personal experiences of the Italian traveler Marco Polo during his nearly two decades of residence in China under the Yuan Dynasty in the late 13th century, the "Travels of Marco Polo" (also known as "The Description of the World" or "The Travels of Marco Polo") is renowned in the West as a "wonderful book." Research on this person and his book has become an internationally recognized and comprehensive field of study. In China, the book serves as an important resource and classic for the study of the history of Sino-Western exchanges, the history of multicultural exchanges among multiple ethnic groups, and the Yuan Dynasty. Due to its rich content, vivid plots, fluent and readable style, and engaging nature, it has been widely welcomed by readers. Since the early Republic period, there have been many Chinese translations of this book, with particular praise for the translation by the renowned historian and translator Mr. Feng Chengjun. This edition is highly regarded for its careful and comprehensive selection of the version, the organic integration of translation and textual criticism, a style that balances literary quality and substance, and the rich and precise annotations, all of which greatly enhance the historical, reference, and reading value of the book. It has now been included in the "Century Library," benefiting scholars and readers alike. In the history of Sino-Western cultural exchange, the Italian traveler Marco Polo (Marco Polo, 1254–1324), who arrived in China over 700 years ago, is undoubtedly a pioneer. His book, "The Travels," is widely known and called one of the world's greatest "wonderful books." Today, the study of Marco Polo and his "Travels" has become an international and comprehensive discipline—Marco Polo Studies. The main content of "The Travels" is a record of Marco Polo's travels in China, as well as his experiences in some countries and regions in West Asia, Central Asia, and East Asia. The book adopts a documentary style to narrate his observations in various parts of China, including the Western Regions and the South China Sea, and records the politics, wars, court secrets, festivals, and hunting activities of the early Yuan Dynasty. It particularly provides detailed accounts of the economy, culture, customs, and vibrant scenes of major cities and commercial centers such as Dadu (modern-day Beijing), Xi'an, Kaifeng, Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Yangzhou, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, and Quanzhou during the Yuan Dynasty.