[ADL]∎ PDF The City Of Light The Hidden Journal of the Man Who Entered China Four Years Before Marco Polo Jacob D'Ancona 9781559725231 Books

The City Of Light The Hidden Journal of the Man Who Entered China Four Years Before Marco Polo Jacob D'Ancona 9781559725231 Books

Download As PDF : The City Of Light The Hidden Journal of the Man Who Entered China Four Years Before Marco Polo Jacob D'Ancona 9781559725231 Books

The City Of Light The Hidden Journal of the Man Who Entered China Four Years Before Marco Polo Jacob D'Ancona 9781559725231 Books

In a word: BORING! This book would have been twice as good were it half as long. Selbourne has cut the end and would have done well to cut the middle as well. Jacob's incessant protestations of piety are tedious. He hypocritically condemns everyone around him for greed and self-interest but his own actions, though ostensibly high-minded, are also dictated almost solely by financial motives. For this reason his criticism of others rings hollow. His world view is remarkably narrow and parochial for someone so widely traveled. While he makes extensive observations of the conduct of others, there is no effort to appreciate their viewpoints. I am also skeptical of the provenance of this book. The social debates described have a very contemporary tenor and are relevant to our own times. If this were in fact an authenticated manuscript, this resonance would be remarkable. However, the provenance of the book is in dispute and much space is devoted to supporting its authenticity. The resolution of this issue must await examination of the original manuscript but in the meantime I am skeptical because the discussions seem too modern.


Tags : The City Of Light: The Hidden Journal of the Man Who Entered China Four Years Before Marco Polo [Jacob D'Ancona] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Challenging Marco Polo's status as first to enter China, this journal of a scholarly Jewish merchant who sailed into Zaitun four years before the arrival of Polo describes the adventures of a medieval trader and adds another fascinating chapter to the classic encounter between East and West.,Jacob D'Ancona,The City Of Light: The Hidden Journal of the Man Who Entered China Four Years Before Marco Polo,Citadel,1559725230,1895277777,Asia;Description and travel;Early works to 1800.,China;Description and travel;Early works to 1800.,Jews;Social life and customs;Early works to 1800.,1221-,Asia,Asia - China,Biography,DESCRIPTION AND TRAVEL,Early works to 1800,Far East,GENERAL,General Adult,HISTORY Asia China,History,History - General History,History General,HistoryWorld,History: World,Jacob,Jacob,,Jews,Journeys,Medieval,Non-Fiction,Places & peoples: general interest,Social life and customs,Travel,Travel writing,United States,d'Ancona,,Asia - China,HISTORY Asia China,History General,Medieval,History - General History,1221-,Asia,Early works to 1800,Jacob,,Jews,Social life and customs,Travel,b. 1221,d'Ancona,,Description And Travel,History,History: World,Places & peoples: general interest,Travel writing

The City Of Light The Hidden Journal of the Man Who Entered China Four Years Before Marco Polo Jacob D'Ancona 9781559725231 Books Reviews

This is simply one of the best books I have ever read. And it is definitely, hands down, with a doubt, the single funniest book I have ever read... though it isn't actually intended to be. Until the actual Ancona manuscript itself is made available for scrutiny, we will never know for sure if this text is authentic or a stunningly brilliant, almost cruelly sharp-witted satirical hoax. If it is the latter, it is still extremely impressive, informative and entertaining. Nearly every sentence is punctuated by the author Jacob's constant use of "May God be praised" or "May God spare me", or, for those individuals and groups he really despises "May God strike them down" or "May God shorten their lives". I just could not stop laughing! - nor could I put the book down. Mr. Selbourne, wherever you are, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, sir. One way or another you have given us an amazing piece of work. May God magnify and bless you, and may He extend your life! Amen, Amen, Amen!
OK, nobody else has seen the original, so there's no way of verifying if this is a true translation or a hoax. If it is a hoax, it's a danmed good one, written so well, with lots of research to back it up, that I for one don't care.
This is just brilliant, true or hoax, it gives a deep insight into the Jewish support network and all the opposition & prejudice that Jews had to deal with.
It knocks Marco Polo's account into a cocked hat; incisive philosophy, intimate desriptions of mediaeval life and trade are enough to grant this a place on anyone's bookshelf, true or not.
Book in perfect shape
good read
Happy I bought it
In a word BORING! This book would have been twice as good were it half as long. Selbourne has cut the end and would have done well to cut the middle as well. Jacob's incessant protestations of piety are tedious. He hypocritically condemns everyone around him for greed and self-interest but his own actions, though ostensibly high-minded, are also dictated almost solely by financial motives. For this reason his criticism of others rings hollow. His world view is remarkably narrow and parochial for someone so widely traveled. While he makes extensive observations of the conduct of others, there is no effort to appreciate their viewpoints. I am also skeptical of the provenance of this book. The social debates described have a very contemporary tenor and are relevant to our own times. If this were in fact an authenticated manuscript, this resonance would be remarkable. However, the provenance of the book is in dispute and much space is devoted to supporting its authenticity. The resolution of this issue must await examination of the original manuscript but in the meantime I am skeptical because the discussions seem too modern.