In Marco Polo and the Discovery of the World, John Larner puts him back on a pedestal as the first and most important inspiration for Europe's eventual conquest of the globe. New Scientist One of the most delightful features of Larner's book is its description of the medieval and Renaissance visions of the East, which now seem wonderfully, ludicrously ignorant. The Tablet Larner... setting Polo's narrative and reputation in the historical, geographical and literary contexts which helped construct them, does make things a good deal clearer and proves a compelling counsel for the defence. Michael Kerrigan, Scotsman [An] erudite and highly personal book... Marco Polo and the Discovery of the World is an eloquent attempt to prove that Marco Polo's main importance was to the discipline. This focus leads Larner to much creative rethinking of things that have puzzled many readers. Jonathan Spence, New York Times Book Review
