A New Yorker Best Book of 2024

A captivating journey of the expansive world of medieval travel, from London to Constantinople to the court of China and beyond.

Europeans of the Middle Ages were the first to use travel guides to orient their wanderings, as they moved through a world punctuated with miraculous wonders and beguiling encounters. In this vivid and alluring history, medievalist Anthony Bale invites readers on an odyssey across the medieval world, recounting the advice that circulated among those venturing to the road for pilgrimage, trade, diplomacy, and war.

Journeying alongside scholars, spies, and saints, from Western Europe to the Far East, the Antipodes and the ends of the earth, Bale provides indispensable information on the exchange rate between Bohemian ducats and Venetian groats, medieval cures for seasickness, and how to avoid extortionist tour guides and singing sirens. He takes us from the streets of Rome, more ruin than tourist spot, and tours of the Khan’s court in Beijing to Mamluk-controlled Jerusalem, where we ride asses across the holy terrain, and bustling bazaars of Tabriz.

We also learn of rumored fantastical places, like ones where lambs grow on trees and giant canes grow fruit made of gems. And we are offered a glimpse of what non-European travelers thought of the West on their own travels.

Using previously untranslated contemporaneous documents from a colorful range of travelers, and from as far and wide as Turkey, Iceland, North Africa, and Russia, A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages is a witty and unforgettable exploration of how Europeans understood―and often misunderstood―the larger world.

20 illustrations; 6 maps

About the Author

Anthony Bale is professor of Medieval and Renaissance English at the University of Cambridge and fellow of Girton College, Cambridge. He has received research fellowships from Harvard University and the Huntington Library, among others, and was awarded the Philip Leverhulme Prize. He lives in London.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia is a nonprofit dedicated to changing lives through the power of work. Every book purchased from our page helps fund job training programs, education, and employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers to work. From career coaching to skills development, we empower people in our community to build brighter futures. When you shop our books, you are not just finding your next great read, you are supporting a mission that has strengthened Central and Coastal Virginia since 1923. Give a book a second life and help someone start a new chapter of their own. Our mission is changing lives?helping people help themselves through the power of work. Through an earn while you learn approach, we provide hands-on experience, supportive services, and access to training that leads to real careers. Every purchase plays a role in advancing that mission and creating opportunities across the communities we serve.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia
6301 Midlothian Tpke, Richmond, VA, 23225, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Shipping Terms

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	5 to 14 business days	3 to 6 business days
First item	US$ 3.00	US$ 5.50

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.