<i>The Travels of Marco Polo, the Venetian</i> by none other than Marco Polo himself is an unforgettable read, recommended for lovers of adventure, travel, philosophy and, of course, history. <br><br>This detailed account of Marco Polo's journeys taken during the 13th century is rife not just with historically significant data (particularly on subjects such as inter-religious politics) but with real-life tales of valiant heroes, epic battles and mysteries bordering on the fantastic - If some of the facts were embellished somewhat in Polo's recounting then this is perfectly understandable and, for the most part, well pleasing.<br><br>There are few in the modern world who have not heard of this historical giant and his contributions to society. Reading <i>The Travels of Marco Polo</i> is the perfect way to better understand and appreciate these contributions and in doing so come comprehend some of the events and figures that influenced the world to be what it is today. <br><br>A four star read, the fifth has only been omitted due to Marco Polo's less than tolerant views of none-Christian religious bodies; a telling but unfortunate reflection of the Christian view of Polo's time.