The city of light
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The city of light
Abacus, 1998, c1997
- : pbk
Available at 2 libraries
Note
Originally published: London : Little, Brown, 1997
Includes bibliographical references and index
Translated from Old Italian
Description and Table of Contents
Description
In 1270, Jewish scholar-merchant Jacob d'Ancona embarked on a remarkable voyage from his native Italy to Zaitun, the City of Light, a vast coastal metropolis in Southern China. Translated and edited by David Selbourne from a manuscript hidden from the outside world for centuries, it is a brilliant work of historical significance, a fascinating first-person insight into life in the 13th century. It describes a thriving mercantile economy, whose vigorous manufacture and lavish consumption in the shadow of the impending Mongol invasion represent the swansong of a wealthy, decadent and surprisingly 'modern' society. Jacob d'Ancona's participation as a foreign trader in the grand civic debates shed unique light on, for example, the contemporary relationship of Jews and Christians, and the role for the individual in society - arguments of enduring relevance. It includes an end-piece by David Selbourne discussing the reaction to the 1997 hardback publication.
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