Atlantis, the Antediluvian World

By Ignatius L. Donnelly

Book Overview

The great classic of Atlantis, this book more than any other established the existence of this lost continent for the modern world. Attracting hundreds of thousands of readers and stimulating vast debate, it influenced generations of people including countless scientists who went on to do serious work in their fields, and numerous science-fiction writers. It is a measure of the power of the Atlantis myth that, despite all the evidence to the contrary, the idea of a submerged Atlantic Ocean continent remains vigorous today, long after Donnelly's work first appeared. A lawyer and politician before he turned to writing, Ignatius Donnelly (18311901) spent many years amassing evidence for his book on Atlantis. Displaying an immense knowledge of Platonic and Biblical material, comparative archeological discoveries, folk traditions of deluges, and geological data supporting catastrophic volcanic activity, Donnelly staggered his readers with "facts" and overwhelmed them with his many brilliant arguments. Despite the many more recent discoveries that have proved many of his "facts" to be false, his arguments still dazzle and his central myth continues to fascinate. The highly appealing idea of a lost continent with a high civilization, one that was the mother of all other civilizations, is one of the most enduring of all human myths and shows no signs of disappearing. A seminal work on Atlantis and a classic in the history of culture, this book is the starting point for anyone sincerely interested in the Atlantis myth. Still the most readable and imaginative of the books on Atlantis, it is a work that will long outlive most of the more recent accounts. As a study of the golden past, it is an enormously intriguing and enjoyable book.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486233715
• ISBN13: 9780486233710
• Release Date: December 2011
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Ignatius' work is enjoyable and packed with rare texts

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.

The definitive work for all Atlantis researchers!

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. ...

AT-LAST, ATLANTIS EXPLAINED

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.

Atlantis - for sceptics!

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.