
\[Redactor's Notes: "Ragnarok" is a sequel to "Atlantis" but goes far beyond presaging the pseudo-science of Velikovsky's "Worlds in Collision". The original scans and HTML were provided by Mr. J.B. Hare. In this edition the illustrations and figures have been replaced by the glyph "###". Because of the numerous notes, they have been retained on the original page. Searching on "\[" will reveal the set of notes for the current page. The page numbers of the original have been retained as {p.117} for example. The HTML is plain vanilla with no illustrations. For a fully illustrated version the reader is referred to the website http://www.sacred-texts.com/atl/rag/index.htm where other explanatory material prepared by Mr. Hare is available.\]
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
CHAPTER II. - THE ORIGIN OF THE DRIFT NOT KNOWN.
CHAPTER III. - THE ACTION OF WAVES.
CHAPTER IV. - WAS IT CAUSED BY ICEBERGS?
CHAPTER V. - WAS IT CAUSED BY GLACIERS?
CHAPTER VI. - WAS IT CAUSED BY CONTINENTAL ICE-SHEETS?
CHAPTER VII. - THE DRIFT A GIGANTIC CATASTROPHE.
CHAPTER VIII. - GREAT HEAT A PREREQUISITE.
CHAPTER II. - WHAT IS A COMET?
In this expansive survey the author invites listeners to trace the layers of Earth’s oldest sediments, describing a “drift” of gravel and clay that stretches across continents. He walks through the classic geological suspects—icebergs, glacier tongues, even a continental ice sheet—before turning to an audacious comet theory that aims to explain a single, massive upheaval. The early chapters are rich with vivid accounts of wave action, glacial scratches and distant tidal forces, grounding the speculation in observable landforms.
Beyond the physical evidence, the narrative opens a dialogue between science and myth, examining ancient stories that echo the same cataclysmic themes. By comparing legends of fiery skies, submerged worlds and a primordial “Ragnarok,” the book suggests that memory of a great disaster may have survived in folklore. Listeners will find a thoughtful blend of geological detail, historical speculation, and cultural reflection, all aimed at revealing how our planet’s deep past could still shape human imagination today.
Language
en
Duration
~12 hours (707K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-02-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1831–1901
A restless 19th-century political thinker and bestselling writer, he moved easily between public office, reform movements, and big, controversial ideas. Today he is remembered both as a leading voice in Minnesota and Populist politics and as the author of books that helped popularize theories about Atlantis and Shakespeare.
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