A Journey in Southern Siberia

Description

A Journey in Southern Siberia is a book by American folklorist Jeremiah Curtin, first published in 1909. Curtin embarked on a journey to central Siberia in 1900 with the intent to delve into the religious and folkloric traditions of the Buryat people. Hailing from the lineage of Mongols, who once held dominion over vast expanses of Asia, Europe, and India, the Buryats call the region surrounding Lake Baikal in central Siberia their home. The initial portion of Curtin's narrative serves as a captivating travelogue, offering a window into Tsarist Siberia just prior to the onset of the Revolution. The latter part of his work unfolds as an extraordinary chronicle of Buryat mythology, showcasing narratives of profound intrigue reminiscent of the fluid, dreamlike storytelling found in Native American lore. Amongst the diverse tapestry of tales lie motifs resonant with themes echoed across Asia and Europe, including epic equine figures, sacrificial rituals involving horses, confrontations with giants, the symbolism of a World-mountain, and the pursuit of 'the water of life' akin to themes in 'The Epic of Gilgamesh'.

This book has 115,558 words, 184 pages in the PDF version, and was originally published in 1909.

Production notes: This ebook of A Journey in Southern Siberia was published by Global Grey on the 13th March 2024. The artwork used for the cover is 'Sea of Mud' by Alexei Savrasov.