The Riddle and the Knight by Giles Milton

The Riddle and the Knight

In Search of Sir John Mandeville, the World's Greatest Traveler

Giles Milton

Picador · Print & ebook · November 1, 2002

Giles Milton's first book, The Riddle and the Knight, is a fascinating account of the legend of Sir John Mandeville, a long-forgotten knight who was once the most famous writer in medieval Europe.

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Who it’s for
Readers interested in medieval and Renaissance exploration history
Themes
exploration, literary history, medieval legend
Pacing
Steady

About this book

Giles Milton's first book, The Riddle and the Knight, is a fascinating account of the legend of Sir John Mandeville, a long-forgotten knight who was once the most famous writer in medieval Europe. Mandeville wrote a book about his voyage around the world that became a beacon that lit the way for the great expeditions of the Renaissance, and his exploits and adventures provided inspiration for writers such as Shakespeare, Milton, and Keats.

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By the nineteenth century however, his claims were largely discredited by academics. Giles Milton set off in the footsteps of Mandeville, in order to test his amazing claims, and to restore Mandeville to his rightful place in the literature of exploration.

Who it’s for

  • Readers interested in medieval and Renaissance exploration history
  • Fans of literary biography and historical investigation

Where it sits

Travel Writing51%
Exploration & Discovery46%
Adventurers & Explorers38%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Medieval History
Authors
Giles Milton
Publisher
Picador
Published
November 1, 2002
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
exploration · literary history · medieval legend
Reading lane
Medieval History