Lure & Romance of Alchemy

by Charles John Samuel Thompson

Book Overview

Alchemy has appealed to the imagination of man for centuries and is evident from the prominent part it plays in the legends and romances of the past. At its dawn, alchemy was regarded as a divine and sacred art, enveloped in mystery, that was only to be approached with reverence. Its adepts held its secrets inviolate, enshrouded their operations with symbolism, and gave their materials fantastic names so as to conceal their identity from those outside the mystic cult. In this volume, Thompson unravels these mysteries and presents his findings to the reader. Handsomely illustrated.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517026341
• ISBN13: 9780517026342
• Release Date: November 1990
• Publisher: Random House Value Publishing
• Length: 9 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A good overview of the subject

For anyone wanting to acquire a basic understanding of the history of alchemy, the basic concepts and beliefs that defined it, and the men who were its primary practitioners from the medieval period through the Renaissance and even surprisingly the Industrial Revolution, this is a good place to start. This book was originally published in 1932 but still holds up well as an introductory account. Thompson's prose is very clear and straightforward, is easy to follow, and is accompanied by numerous illustrations taken from the relevant periods. His descriptions of the alchemists' laboratories and their equipment - from alembics to pelicans - are vividly detailed. He also covers the two great goals of the alchemists - the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life - in such a way that the reader can understand what they were after and why they never even came close to achieving them. And the anecdotal tales of the alchemists themselves are fascinating, from those who were sincere in their beliefs and efforts to those who were nothing more than con-men. While no alchemists actually turned lead into gold, Thompson shows how some did make discoveries of value like phosporous and the technique for making Dresden chinaware, not to mention ultimately forming the foundations for the science of chemistry and for the use of chemical preparations to treat medical ailments. The book was originally published in 1932 and is far from the ultimate word on the subject, but again it is a good place to start from. Definitely recommended in that context.