The Adventurer, the Liar, the Priest

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Mandeville wrote his Travels with religious intent Extravagant tales only used to make book marketable Jan de Langhe- Benedictine Monk, prolific writer and avid collector of travelogues

Previously translated Latin works about East into French Flower of the Histories of the East by Armenian monk Hetoum of Corycus (contains Sparrowhawk story) Works of Franciscan Missionary Odoric of Pordenone (key details on India/China) Tale of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem through Egypt and Palestine of German Knight William of Boldensele (Church of the Holy Sepulcher)

Jean Dupins Livre de Mandevie written between 1324-1350 Author guided by knight named Mandevie (from French for to improve life) Satire exposing abuses of the world, meeting allegorical figures representing vices and virtues of life (similar to Voltaires Candide) De Langhe makes his adaptation out of his desire to strengthen and improve the Christian faith

In Georgia, Abkhazia and Armenia, they are good Christians and devoutthey keep [communion] and do well, but we do not keep it and do not do so (TC, 224) Sultan of Egypt: For your priestsdo not care about serving Godthey violate all the law that Jesus had sent them for their salvation (TC, 227) Common people no better- drunks who sell their wives/daughters Time spent on Prester John also showed religious bounty of East

Attempt to raise religious zeal at home Conversation with Sultan entirely invented We know too by our prophecies that the Christians shall recover this land again in the time to come (Travels, 108) Illogical for Muslim ruler; trying to shame Christians through foreign condemnation

Stresses difference between idols and simulacra (unnatural vs. natural representations of Faith) Importance of naturally inspired piety and even when differing from Christian view, Mandeville depicts a common humanity (TC, 235) All have a chance for salvation Anti-Judaism most likely personal, views Jews as killers of Christ; unforgivable

Many translations of the Travels focus too heavily on the bizarre, in hopes to make a larger profit Detrimental to books underlying message of human unity within diversity (TC, 251) Continues today; I was enticed at first by strange headless beings on cover of book- sadly to contrary of Mandevilles aim

Do you think Mandevilles Christian agenda was recognized at the time of the books circulation? If not, is Mandeville anything more than a fraud?

Was Sir John Mandeville actually tolerant of other religions, or did he view them as misguided pawns to be converted at will? Why?

Why do you think Mandeville focused so heavily on exploration and geography? Was it solely a monetary venture or could it have been an outlet to a desire to travel for a member of the monastic order?

John Larner. Plucking Hairs from the Great Chams Beard: Marco Polo, Jan de Langhe, and Sir John Mandeville. http://books.google.com/books?id=vRsc5fa0SRYC&pg=PA147&lpg=PA147&dq= plucking+hairs+from+the+great+cham&source=bl&ots=LgCWdVJua&sig=u4xlzc2TLve34L1c7hR4dfIzBqQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rH1bUpnPO6majALI3 oCwDQ&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=plucking%20hairs%20from%20th e%20great%20cham&f=false Medieval France: An Encyclopedia. Editor: William W. Kibler. http://books.google.com/books?id=MQoKeohhNkMC&pg=PA590&lpg=PA590& dq=mandevie+novel+dupin&source=bl&ots=M3dNCABeJs&sig=5L3z8IAj8wdBfep2_ztw0mLkhw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qVtbUpeQBunuiQKPyIGgBg&ved=0CEA Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=mandevie%20novel%20dupin&f=false The Travels of Sir John Mandeville. Translator: Moseley. Clays LTd, London: 1983. Tzanaki, Rosemary. Mandevilles Medieval Audiences. Section 5: Theological Considerations. Ashgate, 2003.