The Riddle and the Knight

"A delightful travelogue as well as a long-overdue resurrection of one of the most intriguing figures in the history of geographical exploration." —Booklist (starred review)

Giles Milton's first book, The Riddle and theKnight, 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. 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.


"Erudite, witty and adventurous," The Riddle and the Knight is a brilliant piece of detective work (The Mail on Sunday).

"Count on author Giles Milton to be witty, entertaining and intellectually stimulating . . . Brilliant." —Cleveland Plain Dealer
"[Milton] demonstrate[s] his sharp eye for the significant detail or event . . . Engaging." —The New York Times Book Review
"A rare and excellent work that combines scholarship with intrigue, Milton's book may induce that wonderful swoon usually contracted after long hours researching libraries and labyrinths of history." —Publishers Weekly