Xanadu

John Man is a historian and travel writer with a special interest in China and Mongolia. His books have been published in over twenty languages. In 2007 he was awarded Mongolia's prestigious Friendship Medal for his contribution of UK-Mongol relations.

"I have read everything written on Marco Polo, and John Man's Xanadu is, by far, my favorite book on the subject. It's not only an over-due and important historical study, it's an entertaining ride every step of the way. As a researcher, John Man not only puts himself on the very ground that Marco traversed, he takes us with him on the epic journey." JOHN FUSCO, Creator of "Marco Polo", a Netflix Original Series "[John Man] cultivates the sense of wonder in describing unknown lands and unknown peoples; making it easy to imagine being at the court of Kublai Khan, the most powerful man of the time, and experiencing the wonders of another time and place." San Francisco Book Review "An in-the-footsteps-of-Marco-Polo journey through Europe to China which really makes you feel you are wearing Polo's threadbare, sweat-stained slippers as you go" The Scotsman "John Man's engaging and diverting study of the historical Xanadu renders the truths as beguiling as the mythology ... with a combination of travel writing, historical analysis and anecdote, Man uses Xanadu almost as a keyhole through which to describe larger events" Scotland on Sunday