The Travels of Sir John Mandeville

One of the more pioneering and influential works of early modern Europe, The Travels of Sir John Mandeville are ostensibly the account of a knight who traveled to several eastern countries, such as Egypt, China, and India, and what he saw there. What he says he saw there enthralled an entire generation of European minds to come, and went on to influence their attitude towards the East for centuries. Modern readers will recognize the absurdities present in the book, but they will still enjoy a fantastical account that lends a rich insight into the worldview of fourteenth century Europe.