Sometimes dubbed “the first adventure novel,” “Marvels” is a collection of recorded stories told orally by Marco Polo. The Venetian merchant went virtually everywhere in the Eastern Hemisphere, and a highlight of Polo’s journeys was when he was appointed to an important position in the court of Kublai Khan, leader of the Mongol Empire. Although it might seem aged and distant to modern readers, “Marvels” is truly a classic read for any hardcore adventure enthusiast.