The True Story of Marco Polo

At a time when few Europeans ventured far from home, Marco Polo purportedly journeyed to the Far East, leaving Venice in 1271 to traipse across Asia, eventually hobnobbing with Kublai Khan in the fabled Xanadu. Imprisoned several years after his return, Polo penned The Travels of Marco Polo, which was initially read as fiction, and only later considered as a largely factual account. British Sinologist Frances Wood has raised serious questions regarding Marco Polo's best-selling book, which provides a glimpse into a magical, long lost world and has fascinated generations of actual and would-be travelers and adventurers. In this edition of A&E's History's Mysteries, scholars review the pros and cons regarding the veracity of Polo's account, as they investigate the true story behind the life of the first great travel writer. Viewers' conclusions may vary, but most are likely to find this to be an entertainingly informative view of a legendary figure. Recommended. Aud: H, P. (J. Reed)