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Article: The lure of Xanadu: ever since Marco Polo first told the story of his visit to the court of Kublai Khan in the 13th century, the Silk Road has inspired generations of writers and storytellers. Barnaby Rogerson highlights some of the best Silk Road literature.(Celebrating The Silk Road)(Bibliography)
- Article from:
- Geographical
- Article date:
- May 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Circle Publishing Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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There are whole libraries of books that testify to the British obsession with travelling the Silk Road, and scarcely six months goes by without another such 'travel' being published. Many have but a brief period in which to shine before they are replaced by the next; others have survived to be read and read again by each passing generation. So what makes a classic? It must of course be well written, honest, true to its time and engage with the elemental themes of history and geography. It must also be touched by passion.
One has only to chant three names--Attila, Genghis Khan and Tamurlane--to conjure up the most fearful images and recall the hideous destruction ...