The Alchymist's Journal

by Evan S. Connell

Book Overview

The author of Son of the Morning Star, and Mrs. Bridge, offersan acute study of humanity in the form of the journals of seven fictional alchemists. The sense of mystery and the occult seem very alive in this pre-Renaissance setting filled with wisdom, hope, and healing philosophy. Connell's skill is breathtaking.--The Village Voice Literary Supplement.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0865474648
• ISBN13: 9780865474642
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: North Point Press
• Length: 214 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

brilliant

This is a short, challenging, brilliant book. It's not a traditional novel in the sense that it lacks a discernible plot. It is, rather, a series of journal entries each written by a different imagined character. The characters are developed only through the words they use in their journals. The characters are distinct personalities, what they have in common is that they are all practitioners of alchemy, or alchemical medicine, and as such, have world views quite different from that of any (well, most, at any rate) modern readers. Connell's writing perfectly captures the tone and spirit of arcane writings from the Renaissance and early modern period. Perhaps it helps to have studied the works of real historical alchemists to fully appreciate the feat of mimicry that Connell has achieved here. That he has crafted several distinct voices and characters in this fashion is nothing short of amazing.

alchymists journal not for all

3/4 through this i still periodically wanted to throw it at the wall. The author practices the mystification of old alchemists and contemporary language artists. While sometimes it seems to be a word salad gleaned from six obscure thesauruses, he really does unfold the world view of pre-scientific thought from superstition through rudimentary experiment to mysticism. Its Ken Wilbur's evolution of consciousness in antifiction form. Alchemy is not a material science; it is a qualitative knowledge all but lost to our time. In the tone of ecco and borges but more challenging. It wouldn't hurt to read a few histories of alchemy and medieval northern europe first. Check out What IS Painting for a much more accessible treatment.