Land of the Gods: The Long-Hidden Story of Visiting the Masters of Wisdom in Shambhala

This book, originally entitled An Adventure Among the Rosicrucians, was first published anonymously under the pseudonym A Student of Occultism in 1887, but with copyright in the name of Franz Hartmann to protect its text. In 1910, Hartmann republished the story with a new title: With the Adepts. In his preface, he mentioned that the book "has been gathered from notes handed to me by a friend, a writer of considerable repute." That friend and writer was H. P. Blavatsky.

The work unfolds as a romantic and metaphysical tale that leads the reader through the veiled initiations, subtle symbols, and hermetic teachings associated with the mysterious Rosicrucian brotherhood. Told through the perspective of a curious traveler seeking truth beyond the boundaries of empirical science, the story is set against the atmospheric backdrop of an isolated European locale steeped in alchemical tradition. Through strange visions, cryptic conversations, and symbolic dreams, the protagonist encounters adepts whose knowledge transcends worldly understanding. The narrative functions as both a spiritual journey and a vehicle for disseminating esoteric principles rooted in Neoplatonism, Christian mysticism, and Eastern metaphysics. The book represents an example of 19th-century occult literature, when secret societies and initiatic wisdom stirred the imaginations of spiritual seekers across Europe and America. Combining elements of philosophical fiction, spiritual allegory, and speculative metaphysics, Adventure Among the Rosicrucians stands alongside the works of Bulwer-Lytton and early theosophical writings in its effort to unveil the spiritual laws that govern the seen and unseen worlds. It remains a captivating read for students of the occult, admirers of mystical fiction, and seekers of the hidden path.