The story in one page
An orientalist named Ronald Mirlees dies under suspicious circumstances, leaving behind a manuscript describing a hidden valley in the mountains of Tibet. The narrator recounts how Mirlees and his companions, Saunders Philipson and Stephen Poyning, trekked across the arctic conditions of North China to reach this isolated pocket of humanity. The inhabitants hold a peculiar, scientifically advanced society and treat Philipson as the reincarnation of Alexander the Great. Years after Mirlees' death, the narrator releases the document to history, betting that the advent of air travel will soon expose the valley's existence to the modern world.
Who's who
- Saunders Philipson
A mysterious man who bears a striking resemblance to a statue.
- Stephen Poyning
A penniless Oxford graduate looking for work in the East.
- Ronald Mirlees
An orientalist who dies leaving a controversial manuscript behind.
- Kalliboas
A local wise man who explains the valley's ancient history.
What it's really about
- Eternal Recurrence
- The idea that history repeats itself in infinite loops.
- Hidden Knowledge
- Ancient secrets concealed within the earth's most remote geography.
Why it's memorable
- A statue of a man held down by a wire attached to a magnetic stone.
- A telescope made of transparent pebbles that brings mountain slopes into view.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
The narrator publishes the manuscript, trusting that future air travel will prove the valley's existence, confirming the truth about the hidden Greek society.
For your book club
- Does history repeat itself or is it just the same mistakes?
- Can science explain away the appearance of ghosts and gods?