In Xanadu - William Dalrymple

The opening lines of Coleridge's poem serves as the title of noted author William Dalrymple's literary debut. This book is a travelogue by genre, but a very unusual one at that. It chronicles the authors journey across the same route that Marco Polo once undertook, from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to Kublai Khans palace in Shangdu (popularly known as Xanadu) in Mongolia. As is imaginable, the length and the magnitude of the journey is substantial, it is expected that just a straightforward account of each and every day would be more like a logbook and certainly not qualify as an interesting read.

This however is taken care of by William Dalrymple by his masterful control over his prose and his characteristic style of switching the narrative between the past and the present times (also witnessed in his other work, The City of Djinns) seamlessly thereby giving the reader two different perspectives at the same time. What results is an intricate and often a poignant commentary on the places that he happens to pass through interweaving the details of internal conflicts between countries and the corresponding effects on the inhabitants, the views of different strata of people towards foreigners, governments, women and life in general, the present condition of the famed silk route and the prevailing social, religious and cultural practices of different races encountered during the course of his journey. Humorous anecdotes both from the past and present times scattered throughout the book ensures that the tone never gets too serious or preachy and although the prevailing political situations in countries are often discussed, the author ensures that it does not disturb the essence of the book which at heart still remains a travelogue. This one is recommended for people who love armchair travelling and desire something more interesting and intimate than a simple travel guide just listing out places to see. So go ahead and follow the footsteps of Marco Polo with William Dalrymple as your guide...

The Agony and the Ecstasy - Irving Stone

An acclaimed author of the historical biography genre, Irving Stone's stunning portrayal of the life and times of the famous Renaissance artist Michelangelo is almost epic in its scale and execution. It chronicles the life of Michelangelo from his humble beginnings, his aspiration to become a master sculptor in the face of stiff opposition from his family, his interactions with popes, kings and his equally famous contemporaries (Leonardo Da Vinci), his refusal to bow to the traditional artistic norms, his controversial depiction of gods and saints in his paintings and sculptures, and his turbulent love affairs with three different women in different stages of his life. The amount of research and hard work that the author has put in the book is clearly reflected in the amount of detail visible in each and every incident and place described. The most striking feature of the book are the chapters which describe the construction of Michelangelo's most famous works (Pieta, Moses, Sistine Chapel, the dome of St. Peters), capturing in detail the inner turmoil and emotions experienced by an artist striving to achieve perfection and inner satisfaction in the face of a rigid social framework which often does not see eye to eye with the artist's vision.

All in all, this is a truly engrossing read for everyone who has an interest in Renaissance art and sculpture and would like an insight into an artist's mind. Keep in mind however, that this is no Da Vinci Code and don't go for this one if you are looking for a light read. This one is recommended only for people who want to know about Michelangelo and what went behind each of his works and the attached motivation. Although a fictionalised biography, it is the credit of the author who crafts such a realistic tale which may lead you to believe that it is an actual authorised biography of Michelangelo that you are reading.