1434 The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance

The author gives ample evidence that the Chinese invented and discovered many things before the Western World did, and introduced them into Europe in the mid-fifteenth century. Much of this history deals with the complex minutia of mathematical astronomy, using terms and calculations that will leave most listeners in the dust. Narrator Simon Vance livens things up with credible accents—Italian, Latin, Chinese, and French. Otherwise reading with an upper-class British accent, he dominates the highly technical language with aplomb. The author refers listeners to his website for elaborations, a difficult feat for digital readers on the go. Even with such an outstanding narrator as Vance, this highly technical work does not work well in audio. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]