Atlantis, the Antediluvian World (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Neither an occult book nor a work of fantasy, this 1882 classic offers an erudite blend of evidence from geologic, oceanographic, and anthropologic studies and remains a captivating work of and enthusiasm and imaginative thought. 128 illus. Introduction by E. F. Bleiler.

Product Details

• Paperback: 490 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486233715
• ISBN-13: 978-0486233710
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #750,919 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Definative Atlantis, December 26, 2000

By	"auarchitect" (Auburn University, AL) - See all my reviews

This is the book that started it all, written a century ago by a man as strange and dynamic as his story. Every fantastical image of a sunken paradise, or heated dispute about it's existence and location, all started with these pages.

The origin of all Atlantis-hype, this book similarly starts with the origin of the concept itself. Donnely includes a translation of Plato's story that all Atlantean research goes back too. This was the most interesting part of the book, just hearing the first account all discussion and contemplation aside. It is also the most integral part of the book, since out of it comes all of Donnely's extrapolation.

The basic point of the rest of the book is to try to show that 1) Atlantis could have existed and disappeared geologically ages ago, and then furthermore 2) to explain Atlantis's affect on the rest of human history. Here, his attempts are the most interesting, and, often, the most ridiculous. Generally speaking though, he does state his case scientifically, and in most cases, rather believably.

The only glaring faults are his mistranslation of the original Plato, placing Atlantis most likely in the wrong area, and how sometimes he takes some rather huge leaps to justify his points. But hey, he wrote it 100 years ago and still manages to produce an intriguing study into the Atlantean question, without the aids of more advanced technologies.

Either way, it's a very interesting book, and whether you believe in Atlantis or not, I'm sure it will give you a lot to think about, which was indeed Donnely's purpose in the first place. I recommend it to any inquisitive mind.

42 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Generating 19th C. Work Flawed Only by Limited Knowledge, September 28, 1999

By	George Erikson (Desert Hot Springs, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Ignatius Donnelly's groundbreaking work suffers only from his
mis-reading of Plato as to the site of Atlantis. Donnelly's
translation 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 Sir
Desmond Lee's definitive translation (Desmond Lee was knighted in 1961
for his work in translating Plato). Thus Donnelly, unfortunately to be
followed by scores of others, posited Atlantis as a sunken island in
the Atlantic (geologically unsustainable), rather than as an
island-continent across the Atlantic (the Americas)whose civilization
was destroyed but whose "bare-bones" still appear (Caribbean
islands). Probably, he failed to grasp the scope of Plato's knowledge
which described three distinct seas: The Mediterranean which Plato
described as "only a harbor, having a narrow entrance," the
named sea (the Atlantic), and that other that "is the real sea
(the Pacific), with a surrounding land that may most truy called
continent (Asia)." In fact, the North Atlantic 11,500 years ago
could not have supported a climate such as that found in Plato's
description of lush Atlantis. With the geological knowledge available
at his time, Donnelly can hardly be faulted for mis-placing Atlantis,
but we should not continue to repeat this key error.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Atlantis - for sceptics!, January 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Atlantis: The Antediluvian World (Hardcover)

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.