The Travels of Marco Polo: The Complete Yule-Cordier Edition, Volume 1

To my mind, Sir Henry Yule is Marco's redeemer. His translation and epic compilation is still the 'Go To' book on Marco Polo. So much so, that my colleague and I relied on it daily, we slept with it ,it never left our side, and we called it our 'Bible', during our retracing of Marco Polo legendary 25.000 Silk Road journey for the first and still only time in history. Yule was a Scottish Orientalist educated at both the University of Edinburgh and the College of London. He published and edited many travel books, “The Travels of Marco Polo”, being the most important. Henry was commissioned in the British army and served in India. This began his fascination with the people and the region. Upon retirement he devoted his leisure time to medieval history and geography of Central Asia. From his library he would research and send out inquiries throughout the world, to statesmen, foreign diplomats, early explorers, and soldiers in the field, anyone who might have a grain of knowledge or new information. Many areas in China, especially the desert regions, were being traversed for the first time by western scholars and adventurers, since Polo himself. He investigated each and every word and sentence of Polo's account. After sifting through this huge jigsaw puzzle, he carefully notated every entry in his translation, along with the various options. A monumental undertaking, made by this amazing hero of the Marco Polo story.Francis O'Donnell - Author of "In the Footsteps of Marco Polo" the companion book to the PBS Emmy nominated documentary.

The Travels of Marco Polo contains the original account, from the fourrteenth century, of a Venetian merchant's experience in the Far East of that day. For a twenty-first-century reader to make head or tail of the account, a set of explanations, at the very least of the geography, would be essential; such supplementary material is, however, not provided in this account. The reader thus is lost, in more ways than one, as soon as the account leaves the Mediterranean Sea for points east.I felt frustrated by the use of the word "complete" to describe a printing of the text of the account without any notes identifying where these places were, let alone whether any other accounts confirmed or conflicted with the given text.

Great read. shipped fast. Thanks

Marco Polo appertains to an exeptionally small group of historical personalities widely known on all continents. Such knowledge in the first place is based on the passing from generation to generation tales of adventurers and marvellous riches of the Asian World in the Middle Ages. To evaluate in this way of Marco Polo's book is the result of a renaissance interpretation of above all a rational text. No matter how interesting, such an image has made that text to reader of all ages over the past seven centuries, it has concealed its values: understanding of the reality and connection of numerous people and their cultures present on the extended Euro-Asian area. Colonel Henry Yule, himself a great admirer of these infinite diversities; such as geographical, climatic, ethnic, cultural and what else not, has unselfishly made available his great experience of a scientist and researcher, talent and good will in verifiying the saying of Marco Polo and presented it to the scientists and public. The summary of this extremely complex, professional and meticulous work is laid out on these 1680 pages (vols. 1 & 2). Numerous illustrations and detailed descriptions of itineraries and places from the Mediterranean to the Pacific and India, an area of abundant testimonies of great cultures; where great armies have roamed; obstinate missionaries and merchants, diplomats and spies have operated and what we called The Silk Roads, introduce the reader into the great world of Marco Polo and are a valuable source of information for everyone who intends to see these wordless testimonies and numerous fascinating landscapes of vast deserts and their oasis, mountain ranges and green valleys, where life runs slowly but with dignity as Marco Polo has seen and described it. Marco Polo and his work have been in the focus of many individual researchers and teams before and after Mr. Henry Yule, giving valuable contributions. However, for the overall knowledge, vision and comprehension of Marco Polo and his achivements, the book written by colonel Henry Yule "The Book of Marco Polo" has maintained the very top position won by its first presentation to the public in the distant year of 1871.

this is a wonderful read full of interesting facts. I highly recommend this version of the travels of Marco Polo over others.

includes stunning annotated research

Not a good book for the casual reader. Cannot go 2 sentences without footnotes....very annoying if you just wanted to read MP describe his travels.

I love this version of the Travels of Marco Polo. There is so much valuable information and notes that I can't help recommending the Yule-Cordier edition

As expexted, good book, probably still the best Marco Polo book with lots of vivid maps and graphics

Hinter einer Ausgabe der Reisen Marco Polos - kommentiert von Sir Henry Yule - bin ich schon lange her gewesen. Ein antiquarisches Original ist so gut wie unerschwinglich oder jedenfalls kaum erhältlich.Über dieses sehr gute Reprint bin ich wirklich froh, auch der Preis war gut. Auf der Einband-Innenseite befindet sich eine farbige Illustration. Des weiteren erhält der Band alle Illustrationen der Originalausgabe.Wer sich für Marco Polos Reisen interessiert und mehr lesen möchte als nur eine moderne Zusammenfassung, der ist mit dieer 2-bändigen Taschenbuchausgabe im etwas größeren Format gut bedient.Ich bin jedenfalls hoch zufrieden, auch mit Band 2, der inzwischen auch geliefert wurde.