Hi there, readers. Bet you guys forgot about me, or assumed that I forgot how to write. But rest assured, I’m still hanging around, reading and not being inspired by anything I’ve read to write a review or listicle for mass consumption.

However! That changed when I happened upon one of the most outlandish “non-fiction” books I’ve ever read. I sat down to write this review and then, alas, it expired in my library app and I had to put it on hold again. Several weeks later, it is mine again, and I am thrilled to be able to share this fascinating, befuddling, thought-provoking, and at times downright infuriating read with you.

I’m the first to admit I would be beyond thrilled if Atlantis could be proven to be real – imagine what that would do to our known and accepted global history! The dates of our earliest civilizations would be altered, traditional networks of trade and technology completely overhauled… so much would be changed that textbook producers would probably pretend nothing at all had happened to avoid republishing en masse.

Good thing I am not a textbook author. Frankly, and while this is somewhat embarrassing to admit, at points Daughtrey has a compelling argument. There is no doubt that he has spent years meticulously researching and building his position, which we can mostly boil down to the following:

• The best location for Atlantis is the Algarve region, in southern Portugal. On a major seismic fault and prone to landscape-altering earthquakes (such as the disaster of 1755), it’s located along the Strait of Gibraltar and massive oceanic floor dropoffs. Incidentally, the Algarve region is also where the author lives.
• The collapse of Atlantis, based on Plato’s evidence and geological information, can be traced to about 9,600 BC – approximately 11,600 years ago. Prior to this collapse, Atlanteans launched attacks on Eurasia and even parts of Africa as a powerful and technologically advanced entity located in a prime position along the Strait.
• Meanwhile, Plato’s evidence came from Solon in Egypt via a priest or two, who appeared to know details and bits of information that had to be true. Circumstantially.
• A strange, archaic written language, as well as massive stores of silver and a “forgotten” alloy known as orichalcum, seem to have been traded across the Mediterranean from a far-inland port, permeating far-off cultures.
• Local place names follow the mythical creation of Atlantis, matching with the major characters and their designated domains.

All in all, this pinpoints a massive, advanced culture in southern Portugal – then much larger than it was now, thanks to seismic activity and hundreds of meters of shoreline that have sunk and become marshy, overwhelming the more primitive neighboring civilizations with war, weapons, wit, and wealth, until the geography that allowed them to initially thrive doomed them, for not even the powerful Atlanteans were stronger than nature.

There are genuinely some strong points to this theory – Daughtrey has an entire list of more than 100 components laid out by Plato that he uses as a guide, constantly checking and double-checking to make sure his theory matches up. Alleged translation errors in past copies of Plato’s writings opened the door for Daughtrey to make his own translations, and explain how linguistic developments over time can further his cause.

But the kicker is that every time he pulls you in with some sound reasoning, or a new epiphany, he does something to make you question how qualified this guy is to be writing a book like this. He clearly has some impressive connections and a scholarly background yet sometimes sounds like a bit of a crackpot, for lack of a better term.

Not once does he mention that Atlantis is a legend and not pure historic fact. To be fair, everyone does know it’s a legend, and everyone thought Troy and the Trojan War were just a legend instead of being rooted in fact before Heinrich Schliemann discovered the ruins in 1870. The thought of that same massive discovery potentially happening with Atlantis is awe-inspiring. Still, Daughtrey puts so much effort into explaining every little detail of his theory, it seems willful that he does not even acknowledge that Atlantis is, at the current time, no more than a legend or that Plato – or Solon, or anyone else in the ancient game of telephone that gave antiquity the story of Atlantis – could have been mistaken about some things.

There were times where I felt like I was Milo Thatch’s boss being chased relentlessly with the latest, newest, just-wait-til-you-hear-THIS theories.

On top of that, the sources Daughtrey uses, and works closely with, include other leading authors and quasi-archaeologists in this field. Even the review quote on the cover of the book comes from Graham Hancock, whom Daughtrey occasionally quotes and bounces ideas off of. Just like any other academic field, this small circle of Atlantean experts cite and critique each other’s theories, yet somehow it seems a little less reliable here than in a peer-reviewed journal.

Perhaps I’m not the best to disparage the credibility of these sources, though, as every time he mentioned the brawny blonde- or red-headed Atlantean race, the guys from that one Spongebob Squarepants special popped into my mind.

My point is, it’s a very interesting read. I don’t know if I’d call it factual, though it certainly is non-fiction. If you are able to suspend your belief and, yes, critical thinking skills at certain points, it’s fascinating. Like I said earlier – other now-known historical sites were long thought to be mythic, and changed the world when they were found. Who’s to say Atlantis won’t be next?

Will Daughtrey be the man to do it? Who can say – after all Schliemann was something of an amateur (and very good example of what archaeology should not be) as well. Maybe it took the right combination of luck, interest, and knowledge to put Daughtrey front and center in the location that he believes best fits the story of Atlantis, and that gave him the drive to pursue his theory for decades.

Treasure hunters and amateur archaeologists, pack up your metal detectors, scuba gear, and map of the Algarve coast. You surely won’t be alone when you arrive.

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