January 1922. With powerful forces of a new century pressing in around them, Danish explorer and scientist Knud Rasmussen visits the isolated camp on the great Iglulik shaman, Aua. For Rasmussen and his protege, the young anthropologist Therkel Mathiassen, arriving at Aua's family camp is like falling into Paradise, an artic Garden of Eden with an intoxicating mix of spiritual and physical vitality, joyful intelligence and exuberant generosity.