Marco Polo was the most famous traveller of his time. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China; after which he served the Kubilai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions. On his return to the West he was made a prisoner of war and met Rustichello of Pisa; with whom he collaborated on this book. The accounts of his travels provide a fascinating glimpse of the different societies he encountered: their religions; customs; ceremonies and way of life; on the spices and silks of the East; on precious gems; exotic vegetation and wild beasts. He tells the story of the holy shoemaker; the wicked caliph and the three kings; among a great many others; evoking a remote and long-vanished world with colour and immediacy.For more than seventy years; Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1;700 titles; Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors; as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
#541362 in Books Grant; Ulysses S./ McPherson; James M. 1999-01-01 1999-01-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.80 x 1.10 x 5.00l; 1.02 #File Name: 0140437010704 pagesPersonal Memoirs of U S Grant
Review
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful. Clear-eyed memoirs of a military man - eBook edition comments tooBy Joseph SomselGrant's memoirs show the power of clear-eyed realism. He was a great general because he refused the temptations of self-delusion and called it out when he saw it in others. His writing has a clarity about it no doubt developed from years of writing as if the lives of thousands on men depended on getting his message across clearly and unambiguously.One surprise was how loosely the other; supposedly subordinate generals did or did not follow Grant's orders. I expected more discipline in our army - poor communications to distant theaters probably made tighter control impossible.True; the book sometimes bogs down in campaign detail of little interest to today's reader but that is the raw stuff of his success.Before delving deeply into Civil War history; I recommend a book on the military technology of the day - a book like "The Civil War Military Machine" by Drury and Gibbons. One needs to understand issues like a charging group of men can cover 200 yards in 2 minutes while mounted cavalry can do it in 30 seconds. Why is that important? The range of their rifles was about 200 yards and a steady soldier could get off 2 rounds a minute or four shots into the attacking column. A locomotive of the time could pull 15 cars at about 25 mph. A wagon train pulled by horses or mules had a maximum range of 100 miles hauling its own feed and could travel in a day what a locomotive could cover in an hour. All this facts and more shaped how the war was fought.Grant's political development and the events after Lincoln's death were of particular interest. He signed on to the Know Nothing Party as a young officer but only attended one meeting before dropping it. The treatment by Secretary of War Stanton of Grant and Sherman was a great injustice suggesting a political kneecapping by Stanton of the victorious and popular heroes. One wonders if Obama took a page from Stanton's book with Petraous and McChrystal et al? Grant's opinion of Andrew Johnson; Lincoln's VP and 17th president couldn't get much lower. It helps to illuminate the Radical Republicans' treatment of Johnson; a view I hadn't read before.As to this eBook edition; there were the usual misplaced or redundant text blocks; causing a bit of confusion. Worst; the maps were absolutely useless on my kindle Fire.I also recommend Sherman's memoirs and would have like to have seen more post-bellum chapters from Grant on his political career. Perhaps his tolerance of the disobedience of the subordinate generals played a role in his overly trusting attitude to his cabinet and political appointees.20 of 20 people found the following review helpful. Great ReadBy CHUCKi read this book using my google earth to look at the areas they were fighting inIt is a fascinating read giving a good insight to the character of the man who comesacross as a brilliant tactician fighting not only the rebels but Washington as well.He demonstrates care for his men as well as understanding for the failings of some ofthe Generals underneath him.My only criticism is that the maps on Kindle are too small to do any good.Chuck C8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. U.S. Grant wasn't just another pretty faceBy Tom from Santa MonicaGreat book. Actually I think it is a combination of four volumes. I am still not fininshed after two years of off and on reading. Reading Grants thoughts and hearing his account of conversations with Lincoln; Stanton and Robert E. Lee is fantastic. You read how he was a reluctant soldier and West Point student. His father got him an appointment and the Congressman that appointed him actually changed his name from Hiarm Ulysses to Ulysses S. Grant. His thoughts on the Mexican War in which he was a participant. His views on slavery and appraisals of his generals. How he depended on Sherman and Sheridan to finally defeat the Army of North Virginia.The story of how Grant came to write this biography after being bankrupt and then diagnosed with cancer when he is encouraged by his friend to put down in writing his recollections and thoughts. That friend was Mark Twain
