Beasts, Men and Gods

About this book

Fleeing the Russian Revolution, Ferdinand Ossendowski travels through the forests of Siberia and the grasslands of Mongolia, pursued by danger and drawn toward rumours of a kingdom beneath the earth. Its hidden ruler is called the King of the World.

The journey mixes flight, war and vivid encounters with Buddhist communities and the legends Ossendowski says he heard along the way. Agarthi and other secret places give his travel narrative its lasting occult reputation. Ossendowski reports these legends as stories heard during a journey through genuine political upheaval. The underground kingdom itself remains unverified.