The Prologue surveys the theoretical framework of the book and outlines the story of the chapters to follow. It emphasises that Buddhism was only recognised as a religion in the West from the first half of the nineteenth century. Thus, for this reason, until that time, the story of the Buddha moved from East to West as a series of glimpses and hints, errors and confusions, with occasional insights into the Buddhist path, along with many false trails. It has come to us in textual fragments; or, perhaps, like bits and pieces of a jigsaw that don’t necessarily fit together.