Composed in a prison cell in 1298 by Venetian merchant Marco Polo and Arthurian romance writer Rustichello of Pisa, The Description of the World relates Polo''s experiences in Asia and at the court of Qubilai, the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire.

In addition to a new translation based on the Franco-Italian "F" manuscript of Polo''s text, this edition includes genealogies of the Mongol rulers and nine maps of Polo''s journey, as well as thorough annotation and an extensive bibliography.