Book review – Marco Polo- from Venice to Xanadu

Marco Polo - From Venice to Vanadu by Laurence Bergreen

In this age of an avoidance of corporate responsibility it is salutary to learn that after the defeat of the Venetian navy by the Genoese fleet off Curzola in 1298 the Venetian admiral, Andrea Dandolo, felt it appropriate to lash himself to the mast of his flagship and beat his head against the hardened wood until his skull fractured.

Of equal interest is the fate of one of his commanders, the returned world traveller Marco Polo, who was carried off with the better class of captives to languish in the Palazzo di San Georgio in Genoa.

It was during the years of captivity that Marco Polo, wearied by constant repetition of his tales of travels to Cambulac, Samarkand, the gold and silver roofed city of Pagan and the then largest city in the world the utterly unknown Quinsai (Hangzhou) allowed Rustichello of Pisa to take down some of his amazing tales – initially in demotic French – and publish the first edition of what is without doubt one of the most influential books in the history of the world – a work called “Description of the World” and known now to all as Marco Polo’s “Travels”.

Laurence Bergreen has written, in “Marco Polo – From Venice to Xanadu” the best and most readably account of the life of the Venetian merchant, traveller, linguist, theological student, diplomat, ambassador, military commander who left his home in 1271 as a teenage boy to accompany his father and uncle on a journey that was motivated by the honest avarice of the trader but which took them not only to the very limits of the worlds as known to Europeans but far beyond to lands unknown.

Steve Shows Off His Lollipop

* Courtesy of Ealing Times. Steve helping children from Coston Primary School cross Oldfield Lane South

Steve took to Oldfield Lane (Greenford) with only a fluorescent jacket and lollipop earlier this month in order to call on more people to take on the role of the local school Lollipop Lady/Man. 

Ealing is currently looking for more lollipop people to help children in the mornings and afternoons travel to and from school safely and Steve was supporting the recruitment drive by helping children from Coston and Edward Betham schools across this busy stretch of road.

Steve, who has worked in the past as a bus conductor and hospital porter, enjoyed himself but didn’t quite realise how much hard work the job entailed.  Speaking to the Ealing Times he said,

“I learned so much from the whole experience. I never realised quite how difficult a job it actually is.

“It looks very simple but actually it is very tricky, but incredibly rewarding.

“At the moment there are 11 vacancies for these roles in Ealing, and I hope we can get them filled soon as they are vital to our children’s safety.”