Atlantis has been, and probably always will be one of the crowning myths of our current civilisation. It certainly has fascinated author and researcher Frank Joseph for most of his adult life. He is the editor-in-chief of Ancient American and a well-known researcher into ancient civilisations pertaining to the Americas.

In this volume Mr Joseph shares his passion for tracking down both the Atlantis myth and the reality that it existed. He travelled extensively over many years, visiting possible sites, researching archives and museums, studying the latest geophysical and archaeological findings. It sounds as if he had a wonderful time!

While acknowledging that the ‘A’ word, referring to Atlantis, is anathema to mainstream academia, he points out that he wanted to research the destruction of Atlantis by studying evidence. He insisted on doing so through classical writings and hard science rather than depending on channelling or crystals – not that there is anything wrong with crystals! The result is a first-rate survey of the What, When, Where, and How of Atlantis and its inevitable destruction.

The material is organised into nine chapters. The first is an extended parable or re-creation of how it might have been to be in Atlantis during the actual days of seismic upheaval. This is very readable and engrossing. It follows the fortunes of a respected trading ship captain who flees with the Royal Family on a regal ship.

Author Joseph uses all the available knowledge about Atlantis taken from the writings of Plato and other classical writers, the geophysical record of volcanic eruptions, archaeological records, and hypothesis which is commonly ascribed to all myths surrounding Atlantis.

He then follows with chapters which focus on the various theories of whether or not Atlantis was a continent or an Island, where it was most likely to have been located, the timeline of the catastrophe, how it may have been destroyed, and the encoding of the information into myth and legend.

The final chapter looks at the parallels between Atlantis and our present civilisation. Although the subject has clearly been regarded as taboo for mainstream science, there is much that can be deduced from the jigsaw-like pieces obtained from alternate disciplines.

Mr Joseph is to be congratulated on bringing together otherwise disjointed threads from science, historical writings, myths and religious records. He supports his subjects with excellent notes and bibliography.

Factual elements of the Atlantis story as told here are appropriately emphasised in this book. There is clearly ample evidence to support a global catastrophe some 3,200 years ago (around 1200 BCE).

This evidence is found in the geological record of much of the northern hemisphere. Archaeological findings support a huge upheaval in society with a drastic reduction in population at about the same time. Classical writings, especially Plato, tell of seismic activity on a scale unknown or recorded before that time.

I found it thought provoking to associate this information with our current situation with increased seismic activity, extreme weather, pollution, and global warming. The parallels may be unnerving for some, but the message is clear. This has happened before. It may be happening again.

One of the pleasures in reading this work is Mr Joseph’s attention to detail in his research. Another is his acknowledgement of the researchers who have paved the way for this speculative quilt. He holds nothing from the reader.

I recommend this work on Atlantis as both a new perspective and a drawing together of what is already known. This author’s books are always readable and arranged in a way that each area of interest can be accessed quickly.

The Destruction of Atlantis is one that will remain at the top of my bookshelf for some time.

– Reviewed by Jennifer Hoskins in New Dawn No. 96