Master of The Arts

This is a blended genre story of the facts and fictitious events surrounding the life of Marco Polo and his friend and confidant Rustichello da Pisa. Marco spent 17 years in the court of Kublai Khan, gaining favour with the Khan and eventually becoming one of his trusted diplomats. After Marco returned to Venice employed in the family merchant business, he got involved in the city's war with Genoa and was imprisoned with Rustichello. It was during their imprisonment Marco told his story to Rustichello of his service to The Khan of Khans in Asia and his many adventures beyond the confines of the known world. Rustichello da Pisa journaled a manuscript entitled "The Travels of Marco Polo." Whilst this story was read far and wide throughout Europe at the time it was nonetheless eclipsed by the stories and talents of the author's life himself, for da Pisa's adventures gained him much notoriety in later life as " A Master of The Arts." Untrue, but the author has made it so.

This story is a tale of tragedy, loss of material wealth, courage and determination to succeed in the face of great odds. It tells of adventure, change in direction and philosophy of life which carried him into many fields of endeavour as it had done for his friend Marco Polo. It is fitting that this tale be told of a man of many talents and how he utilised his God-given gifts ultimately in the service of others. If the facts and fiction of the tale had not been told it would be just a whiff of smoke in the scheme of things and a pity beyond the imagining.

This tale tells more extensively of fiction of the life of Rustichello's entry into the halls of Philip III, king of France (1270-85) services, in whose reign the power of the monarchy was enlarged and the royal domain extended, though his foreign policy and military ventures. It is a delightful lesson in the importance of perseverance for him to find his rightful place in the world., for it was the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune that he was called upon initially to adapt his chameleon talents to the outer world as well as holding in reserve his inner divine commitment. De Pisa proved flexible, discerning in his ability; a juxtaposition of masking his part divinity and at the same time his ability to be a trickster to gain favour with the king. and a position of importance. to reflect his various talents to gain a position of importance for his immediate survival in service.