Tahir Shah

Beyond the Devil's Teeth Tahir Shah

Forty-five million years ago, the supercontinent of Gondwanaland split apart, creating what we know as India, Africa, and South America. Curiously, this vast landmass was named after the aboriginal tribe of Gonds, who lived in central India.

Meeting a Gond storyteller on a visit to Mumbai, Tahir Shah first learned of their ancient saga - the epic Tale of Lingo - and vowed to visit all three regions of prehistoric Gondwanaland.

As he travels both west and east, Shah encounters an extraordinary miscellany of characters, attends magical ceremonies and rites, as well as seeking out mythical treasures and fragments of lost folklore.

Roughing it most of the way, his expeditions take him from the sweltering hinterland of central India, through Africa, and on by twists and turns to the stark tundra of Argentine Patagonia.

One of the strangest and most compelling travel books of its time, Beyond the Devil's Teeth is a remarkable feat of storytelling, and was the classic travelogue that placed Shah at the forefront of the travel writing genre.