‘A wild ride through history’: Second book by Shepherd alumnus published
SHEPHERDSTOWN — A Shepherd University alumnus has released his newest book, “Lemuria: A True Story of a Fake Place,” to the public on Tuesday.
Justin McHenry, who graduated from Shepherd University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in history, now lives in Charles Town. While he spends his days as the University Archivist for American Public University System, his free time has largely been dedicated to writing. Along with a number of articles related to his love for history and a contribution to the Journal of the American Revolution: Annual Volume 2022, McHenry has also published one other book related to Shepherdstown’s literary heritage, “The Garden at Rose Brake: Garden Writings of Danske Dandridge.”
McHenry’s second book was published by Feral House, Inc., of which he received advanced copies right before Christmas.
“Got a pleasant, breathtaking surprise today when the first copies of my book, ‘Lemuria: A True Story of a Fake Place,’ showed up on my doorstep,” McHenry wrote on LinkedIn. “It is such a surreal experience, actually holding it in my hands. Seeing my name on the spine. Taking it all in. I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present!”
While McHenry’s first book reflected his professional experience as an archivist, as it featured a carefully curated selection of work by Shepherdstown poet and gardening enthusiast Danske Dandridge, his second book appears to have required more from his earlier experience as a history major.
“The book, ‘Lemuria: A True Story of a Fake Place,’ takes readers through the history of the lost continent of Lemuria, from its beginnings as a land bridge to being hijacked by alternative religious movements to becoming a crystal city buried in a Californian mountain and all points in between,” McHenry said.
For McHenry, researching and writing about the history of Lemuria, which was originally proposed by zoologist Philip Sclater in 1864, proved to be “a blast.”
“It’s a fun, wild ride through some forgotten history,” McHenry said. “What Atlantis is to the Atlantic Ocean, Lemuria is to the Pacific and Indian oceans. Beginning as a theoretical land bridge to explain the mystery of how lemurs arrived on Madagascar, Lemuria quickly got hijacked to become the evolutionary home of humankind, the cradle of spirituality, and the source for a whole host of cosmological wonders.”
Though debunked by scientists as hokum, according to McHenry, the myth held on as a possible fact in the minds of many, including early Darwinists, conspiracy spouting Congressmen, globetrotting madams, Rosicrucians, Hollow-Earthers, science fiction writers, UFO contactees, sleeping prophets, New Age channelers and a tequila swigging “Mother God.”
“It is the perfect book for anyone who loves exploring the mysteries of the world,” McHenry said.
To learn more, visit https://www.justinjmchenry.com/. The book can be purchased through Book Shop or wherever books can be purchased.