In the Footsteps of Marco Polo : A Companion to the Public Television Film

by Belliveau, Denis

• ISBN13: 9780742556836
• ISBN10: 0742556832
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-11-01
• Publisher: Natl Book Network

Summary

"Did Marco Polo reach China? This richly illustrated companion volume to the public television film chronicles the remarkable two-year expedition of explorers Denis Belliveau and Francis O'Donnell as they sought the answer to this controversial 700-year-old question. With Polo's book, The Travels of Marco Polo, as their guide, they journeyed over 25,000 miles becoming the first to retrace his entire path by land and sea without resorting to helicopters or airplanes." "Accompanied by 200 stunning full-color photographs, the text provides a fascinating account of the lands and peoples the two hardy adventurers encountered during their perilous journey. The authors' experiences are remarkably similar to descriptions from Polo's account of his own travels and life. Laden with adventure, humor, diplomacy, history, and art, this book is compelling proof that travel is the enemy of bigotry - a truth that resonates from Marco Polo's time to our own."--BOOK JACKET.

Table of Contents

New York: Stepping Off the Edge	p. 1
Venice: Marco Polo Slept Here	p. 7
Holy Land, Holy Fire: The Keys to the Church	p. 11
Turkey: You Always Have a Friend	p. 16
Persia: The Genesis of the Story	p. 27
Afghanistan: The Word of a Warlord	p. 36
Balkh: The Mother of All Cities	p. 45
Fortress to Fortress: East toward Dawn	p. 53
The Wakhan Corridor: A Caravan into the Snow and Ice	p. 71
Tajikistan: The Roof of the World	p. 87
The Back Door to China: And the World's Most Traveled Man	p. 95
Kashgar to Khotan: Southen Silk Road Oases	p. 101
Taklamakan: Sailing on a Sea of Sand	p. 123
The Desert of Lop: And the Road That Doesn't Exist	p. 133
The Middle Kingdom: Marco Polo's Fabled Cathy	p. 139
Tibet: "The Greatest Illuminations the World Has Ever Seen"	p. 145
In Xanadu: There Was No Stately Pleasure Dome	p. 165
Lesser India: The Road to Southeast Asia	p. 173
Mongolia: "He Made Up His Mind to Conquer the World"	p. 185
Il Milione on the Grand Canal: "I Am Afraid to Tell You ... for Fear I Should Be Branded a Liar"	p. 197
Hong Kong: A Passage to India	p. 205
Sumatra: The Tree of Life	p. 207
Ceylon: The Island of Serendipity	p. 225
India: "The Richest and Most Splendid Country in the World"	p. 235
Iran: The Old Man of the Mountain	p. 255
The Return to Venice: Coming Full Circle	p. 271
Bibliography and Suggested Readings	p. 280
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.