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Books on Atlantis.
The fascination of the Atlantean mystery has led to the publishing of at least 25,000 books on the subject. This is not to count pamphlets, articles, and web sites. It seems
that there was never any other period of history more absorbed by the Atlantis saga than we are at present.
Unique contribution.
Below is just a tiny sampling of the many books published on the Atlantis theme. At least several of them make a unique contribution to the Atlantis debate and are virtually
indispensable for a thorough understanding of the subject. Not all of them support the view of Atlantis as an historical reality or even the concept of it being an Atlantic island. However for a well
rounded illustration of the arguments involved it would be hard to find much better reading.
The Timaeus and Critias By Plato.
Published in English by Penguin Classics.
What better place to commence any investigation of the Atlantis saga than reading what Plato actually wrote on the subject. Although by no means all of the Timaeus and Critias is
devoted to the Atlantis account it still constitutes an irresistible source of reference for anyone at all interested in the story.
The Secret of Atlantis by Otto Muck.
German title: Alles uber Atlantis.
Originally published in Germany by Econ Verlag GmbH 1976
Published in English by William Collins 1978.
An extraordinary book that gives exhaustive proof of several of the key elements of the Atlantis debate. It convincingly argues that not only was Atlantis an Atlantic Island
but that given certain catastrophic circumstances Atlantis could indeed have disappeared beneath the waves in a single day and night as recounted by the Greek philosopher Plato. We believe that no other
book in the Atlantis debate does so much towards proving the existence of this long lost island. A masterpiece of scholarly deduction.
The Mystery of Atlantis by Charles Berlitz.
First published in Great Britain by Souvenir Press 1976.
A popular well rounded book that ably explores the many different aspects of the Atlantis story. Although the authors support for the idea of the historical existence of
Atlantis is obvious, this is in no way allowed to colour the thrust of his arguments. Much of this material can be found in other books on the subject but Berlitz’s style of writing makes for a
painless job of comprehension.
History of Atlantis by Lewis Spence.
First published by Rider& Company, London 1926
Lately published by Studio Editions, London 1995.
For years this was virtually required reading for anyone even slightly interested in the Atlantis mystery. Author Lewis Spence wrote at least five books on the Atlantis
theme of which this is the most popular. It illustrates the various cultural, zoological, and geographical clues that make the prospect of an historical Atlantis in the Atlantic Ocean a distinct
possibility. However despite this approbation of Plato’s account, author Spence attempts to show that although Atlantis existed it was not the supremely extraordinary place of modern imagining but
something of an advanced ‘stone-age’ civilisation similar to that of ancient Mexico and Peru.
Atlantis in Santorini.
The theme of Atlantis in terms of its location on the Greek island of Santorini- Thira - as it also called, has led to the publication of a whole host of
books. Several of the best known ones are listed below.
Voyage to Atlantis by James W Mavor.
First published in Great Britain by Souvenir Press 1969
The importance of Santorini as an archaeological site of prime importance is not in doubt. Nor is the fact that Santorini was blown apart by a massive volcanic explosion
around 1300 BC. An explosion which not only ripped apart the island but effectively put an end to the Minoan civilisation on the nearby island of Crete. What is in doubt however, and what is never
satisfactorily explained in this book is why Santorini should be mistaken for Atlantis when Plato specifically says it was over 2500 miles away in the Atlantic Ocean.
The End of Atlantis by J.V. Luce
First published by Thames & Hudson Ltd, London 1969
This is yet another attempt to attribute the location of Atlantis to the island of Santorini in Greece. A profoundly scholarly work but suffering from the unresolved flaw of
the above mentioned book - namely the difficulty of overriding Plato’s insistence that Atlantis was an Atlantic Island.
Atlantis of the North by Jurgen Spanuth
First published in Great Britain by Sidgwick and Jackson Ltd 1979
First published in Germany under the title Die Atlanter by Grabert-Verlag
In some senses this expertly written book deserves much claim and attention. In fact were it not for the fact that here again the author strives assiduously to make Atlantis
into a kingdom off the coast of northern Europe it would be a phenomenal work of scholarship. Why for instance would Plato be so specific: That Atlantis was just beyond the Pillars of Hercules - if in
fact it was actually an island off the coast of modern Germany. This aside “Atlantis of the North”, is a great account of other sunken lands that might indeed have been Atlantean colonies, but not
the island itself.
See our FAQ question: Where was Atlantis?
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