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In Xanadu: A Quest (Flamingo) by: William Dalrymple

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Rating: - Interesting, but could have been better

In the mid 1980s, William Dalrymple (then in his early 20s) made a journey retracing the steps of Marco Polo's famous journey during the 1200s, from the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to the site of Shangdu (or Xanadu, as is better known in literature), the summer palace of Kublai Khan, in Outer Mongolia, China. In reality, though, since Soviet Central Asia was then barred to western travel, he deviated in part from Marco Polo's route, going through the Baluchi desert, in southern Iran and Pakistan, and then up the Indus river, and through the then newly opened Karakoram highway to western China, instead of traveling to China through Samarkand and other cities in Central Asia. The book itself is a mixed bag, there is some interesting things in it (at least he did some homework in terms of research) but there are far too many of the sort of banal, smug and self-centered comments and experiences you see in much of the travel writing of westerners as they go through the third world.

Rating: - Informative and fun

In this book William Dalrymple sets out to follow in the steps of Marco Polo to the Palace of Kubla Khan with a vial of "holy oil" from Jerusalem. On the way he travels through some seemingly very inhospitable places, where the people turn out to be extremely hospitable. He is a writer to be reckoned with as he brings the people and places to life. I enjoyed this book but gave it 4 stars as I thought some of the scenes were a little bit too long, but overall I found it to be informative and fun, and certainly different from the diet of "I moved to another country for the sun" books which seem to have dominated this genre in recent years.

Rating: - A Pleasure Dome

A joy to read. There are few writers who can invoke an atmosphere, a setting, a genius locii with such taut writing and so little persiflage. Having been to at least a few of the places Dalrymple visited, it was difficult not to yell out "Yes, it really was like that". So many travel writers are guilty of at least one of the following - a) to patronise the reader "Look how clever I am", or b) patronise the locals "aren't they a funny bunch", or c) prove they are unable to understand themselves, never mind others. Some writers manage to fall into all three traps. Dalrymple is seldom, very seldom, responsible for any such rubbish. Finally, to tie his travels into that great, universal theme of The Quest is a stroke of genius. Few have been able to dance so lightly and with such gusto over words. In short, one of the great travel books. Pity he went to Oxford, but Fate always ensures no-one is perfect.
Hans Norton

Rating: - In Xanadu by William Dalrymple

I was encouraged to read this book by a friend - Travel is not really my bag BUT I LOVED IT!!! Once started I couldn't put it down. The dry humour greatly amused me. I loved the mix of interesting historical asides to a modern travelogue. I was intrigued by the descriptions of the people William Dalrymple met on his travels. Whether this is your first travel book or simply the most recent I don't see how you can fail to enjoy it.

Rating: - first sign of a great writer to be

This is Dalrymple's first book, of a trip he undertook when he was still at university. His idea was to follow in Marco Polo's tracks, as far as the political situation of the time would allow. Although the book is not yet as well-informed and thoughtful as his later works, it is already a pleasure to read.

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