Atlantis: The Antediluvian World

Whether or not you think there was an Atlantis, this work should be read on account of the breath of insight which typifies some (not all) 19th century scholars. Professors today are often incapable of such writing because their feild of study is too narrow. This was written before Atlantis became associated with flaky new-age belief systems. It is packed with exerpts from hard to find texts from the ancient world. The analysis is graceful and intriguing, and it is hard to set the book down.

This is the ultimate book on Atlantis. Well written (though hard to understand at times due to the 19th century grammar), well researched, and very informative. Required reading for anyone interesting in Atlantis. ...

Ignatius Donnelly's groundbreaking work suffers only from hismis-reading of Plato as to the site of Atlantis. Donnelly'stranslation of the Greek led to his placement of Atlantis as"opposed to the Pillars of Hercules (Straits of Gibraltar)"rather than "across" from the straits as related in SirDesmond Lee's definitive translation (Desmond Lee was knighted in 1961for his work in translating Plato). Thus Donnelly, unfortunately to befollowed by scores of others, posited Atlantis as a sunken island inthe Atlantic (geologically unsustainable), rather than as anisland-continent across the Atlantic (the Americas)whose civilizationwas destroyed but whose "bare-bones" still appear (Caribbeanislands). Probably, he failed to grasp the scope of Plato's knowledgewhich described three distinct seas: The Mediterranean which Platodescribed as "only a harbor, having a narrow entrance," thenamed sea (the Atlantic), and that other that "is the real sea(the Pacific), with a surrounding land that may most truy calledcontinent (Asia)." In fact, the North Atlantic 11,500 years agocould not have supported a climate such as that found in Plato'sdescription of lush Atlantis. With the geological knowledge availableat his time, Donnelly can hardly be faulted for mis-placing Atlantis,but we should not continue to repeat this key error.

This definitive work on the long lost continent of Atlantis is not only a classic of modern thought, but an overwhelming theory on the characteristics, beliefs, and world influence that Atlantis has had. I highly recommend Donnelly's Atlantis to any reader who is interested in social science or a good old Atlantean investigative report.

When Eccleisiasticus said "Of the making of many books there is no end" he might have have been speaking about "Atlanteology"! And this would not include all the accounts by "Psychics", "Masters", and other colourful authors. Donnelly's book was first published in 1882, and has rarely been equalled for careful scholarship, meticulous research and honesty. The author marshalls enough facts and collects sufficient evidence to convince the most sceptical of his propositions. Those who have read more contemporary works on Atlantis will find this book a breath of fresh air. Those new to this study will find all the answers they seek and more within it's remarkable pages. If you want to know about Atlantis this is probably the best all-round source there is.