The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (Penguin Classics) |
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Sir John Mandeville
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Pages: 224 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0141441437
Pub: Penguin Classics
Pub date: 2005-03-31
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 140490
Reader Reviews:
Travel before travel (2/2 people found this helpful)
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'.
Classic Medieval Travelogue (11/12 people found this helpful)
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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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> Countries & Regions -> Asia
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> Travel Writing -> Classic
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> General
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> General
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> The Classics
Books -> Subjects -> Science & Nature -> Earth Sciences & Geography -> Education -> Higher Education
Books -> Special Features -> Search Inside!
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
uk-shops -> Travel -> Travel Guides & Books -> Travel Writing -> Classic
uk-shops -> Travel -> Travel Guides & Books -> Countries & Regions -> Asia
uk-shops -> Travel -> Travel Guides & Books -> General
uk-shops -> Education Resources -> Books -> English Literature Study Guides -> Literary Theory & Movements -> Medieval