The first half of the book is devoted to an account of Ambrose Pratt's colourful and surprising life. He was a highly unusual man of keen intellect and massive integrity who occupied important roles both in the East and West. The second half records the messages received by Geraldine Cummins, the best of all writing mediums. By their depth of answer to his questions these messages finally convinced Dr Johnson that he now had veridical personal evidence that all his friend had indeed survived death with his questing mind and philosophical insight intact.