Books published by publisher E.M. Hale/Cadmus

This book is based upon Marco POlo's own book. Not one bit of conversation or quotation has been invented by me. All quoted matter is taken from the well-known Marsden edition. Marco dictated his book in Italian. Since the translation into English was made about 100 years ago, when the English language was stiffer than it is now. I have sometimes used simpler words.

The book is illustrated by Douglas Gorsline. George Washington Carver (1964 - 1943), was an African American scientist, botanist, educator, and inventor. Carver's reputation is based on his research into and promotion of alternative crops to cotton, such as peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes, which also aided nutrition for farm families. He wanted poor farmers to grow alternative crops both as a source of their own food and as a source of other products to improve their quality of life. The most popular of his 44 practical bulletins for farmers contained 105 food recipes using peanuts. He also developed and promoted about 100 products made from peanuts that were useful for the house and farm, including cosmetics, dyes, paints, plastics, gasoline, and nitroglycerin. He received numerous honors for his work, including the Spingarn Medal of the NAACP.