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Cover of The journeyer

Historical Fiction · 1984 · R

The journeyer

by Gary Jennings

Marco Polo did not write the whole truth. This is closer to it.

For17+GenreHistorical FictionLength780 pagesRead time~20 hours

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Content snapshot

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

A lot

Significant period violence including battles, executions, and atrocities

Language

Some

Some strong language

Sexual Content

Very heavy

Graphic and explicit sexual content throughout; multiple encounters across many cultures

Substance Use

Some

Significant period substance use; opium and alcohol are recurring elements

Emotional Intensity

Some

Themes of ambition, cultural encounter, and the moral complexity of witnessing atrocity

What this book is about

Gary Jennings's epic fictional memoir of Marco Polo follows the young Venetian from adolescence through his travels across the medieval world — Persia, China, Mongolia, Japan — narrated in the first person with graphic detail about every aspect of life, desire, violence, and trade across cultures. Like Jennings's Aztec, The Journeyer is extraordinarily long and consistently explicit about sex and violence, aimed at adults who want historical fiction without softening.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

Graphic explicit sexual content throughout

Significant violence

Heavy substance use

Very long book (~780 pages)

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