tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921396252980863301.post7646772764575196504..comments2023-07-07T11:33:38.000-04:00Comments on Wellesley Free Library Reference Blog: Popular History Books of 2008Wellesley Referencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06746442351982397017noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921396252980863301.post-17085646469081443152008-10-18T02:48:00.000-04:002008-10-18T02:48:00.000-04:00Dear Wellesley Reference, You would do your reader...Dear Wellesley Reference,<BR/> You would do your readers a greater service if you did more than simply reprint the publishers' blurbs for books. The book 1434 you include in your list of "popular history" would be better classified as "fiction" or "wannabe history".<BR/><BR/>Mr Menzies' book has all manner of claims but not one piece of evidence to suggest a Chinese fleet reached Italy in 1434. The Chinese accounts he claims are references to Italy are in fact references to the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium). History written on the basis of no evidence is in fact fiction.<BR/><BR/>Like the first book 1421, this work is intended to milk the public -- Deceiving the public for private gain with no conscience about what harm this may do to readers, young and old. It is not for no reason that the author is referred to as a charlatan.<BR/><BR/>For critiques fo the earlier hoax, see www.1421exposed.com<BR/><BR/>best wishes<BR/><BR/>Geoff Wade<BR/><BR/>arigpw@nus.edu.sggeoffwadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07394904286139685977noreply@blogger.com