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The Search for Lost Worlds: An Exploration of the Lands of Myth and Legend, Including Atlantis, Sheba, and Avalon
Atlantis, Avalon, Lemuria, Lyonnesse, the country of the Amazons, of Prester John, of the Queen of Sheba...
Stories of the lost of undiscovered worlds of antiquity have fascinated mankind through the ages and will continue to do so. In a stimulating and wide-ranging survey, James Wellard examines both the scientific approach and the mystical attitude towards the problem of historical or legendary lost worlds and sets out the evidence for both so that the reader can assess fact and fiction.
Stories of the lost of undiscovered worlds of antiquity have fascinated mankind through the ages and will continue to do so. In a stimulating and wide-ranging survey, James Wellard examines both the scientific approach and the mystical attitude towards the problem of historical or legendary lost worlds and sets out the evidence for both so that the reader can assess fact and fiction.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
176 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 14, 1975
About the author
James Howard Wellard
35 books2 followersJames Howard Wellard was a prolific writer of both fiction & nonfiction. He was a journalist who served as a combat correspondent attached to Patton's Third Army during WWII, after which he wrote a biography of General Patton. He continued his successful career as an author until the 1980s.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
August 27, 2025
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to the crackpots of occultists, mystics, theologians, theosophists, those with visions and those with access to secret historical documents from Tibet or India which have been shared with them by ancient keepers of knowledge - which of course nobody else may examine, or have now been lost, etc.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. I will chuck it in spoilers, in case anyone actually wants to be surprised and read this somewhat obscure book...
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.
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. I will chuck it in spoilers, in case anyone actually wants to be surprised and read this somewhat obscure book...
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.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review