Daren
Published in 1975 this book, which at first I struggled to take very seriously, brings together all the previously writings the author can find on the lost worlds.
The first chapter covers Atlantis, but brings in Lemuria & Mu, which are considered variants. The content varies wildly, from the relatively sane - historical writings, references in saga's, geological explorations to the crackpots of occultists, mystics, theologians, theosophists, those with visions and those with access to secret historical documents from Tibet or India which have been shared with them by ancient keepers of knowledge - which of course nobody else may examine, or have now been lost, etc.
This section, by some distance the longest, is concluded with a summary.
Second on the list is a section on Lost Lands of the East, and covers the Garden of Eden, The country of the Queen of Sheba, the country of the Amazons, and the country of Prester John. These sections tend to outline the challenges around tracking down the locations of these people or places, then make some judgements without being very decisive!
The third and final section is titled Lost Lands of the British Isles largely dealing with Roman or pre-Roman legends and myths about The Cassitterides, St Brendan's Island, Avalon, Lyonesse. Most of these reach a conclusion of sorts.
This was a quick read which fits into a genre I read which can probably be described as quirks in geography, lost places, and myth tracing. St Brendan of course is the topic of Tim Severin's excellent The Brendan Voyage.
Amusing, albeit probably not ground breaking, and likely superseded by more recent publications!
3 stars.
Published in 1975 this book, which at first I struggled to take very seriously, brings together all the previously writings the author can find on the lost worlds.
The first chapter covers Atlantis, but brings in Lemuria & Mu, which are considered variants. The content varies wildly, from the relatively sane - historical writings, references in saga's, geological explorations to the crackpots of occultists, mystics, theologians, theosophists, those with visions and those with access to secret historical documents from Tibet or India which have been shared with them by ancient keepers of knowledge - which of course nobody else may examine, or have now been lost, etc.
This section, by some distance the longest, is concluded with a summary.
Second on the list is a section on Lost Lands of the East, and covers the Garden of Eden, The country of the Queen of Sheba, the country of the Amazons, and the country of Prester John. These sections tend to outline the challenges around tracking down the locations of these people or places, then make some judgements without being very decisive!
The third and final section is titled Lost Lands of the British Isles largely dealing with Roman or pre-Roman legends and myths about The Cassitterides, St Brendan's Island, Avalon, Lyonesse. Most of these reach a conclusion of sorts.
This was a quick read which fits into a genre I read which can probably be described as quirks in geography, lost places, and myth tracing. St Brendan of course is the topic of Tim Severin's excellent The Brendan Voyage.
Amusing, albeit probably not ground breaking, and likely superseded by more recent publications!
3 stars.