The Philosopher's Stone, by Sabine Baring-Gould (Oxford University) 1896
Channel: Craig Campbell
Date: 2013-09-08

The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould  (28 January 1834 -- 2 January 1924) was an English Anglican priest. The Anglicans use the Book of Common Prayer which was compiled by Thomas Cranmer in 1549. Gould liked to write historical allegories as well as hymns (Onward Christian Soldiers) as well as many folk songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErZg6vQestU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1zIUSGhlBM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GpqnlFpEvg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg64IZrdy5g

In 1852 he started studying at Cambridge University and earned his BA in 1857 and MA in 1860 from Clare College, Cambridge. He became a priest in Yorkshire in 1864.

The Philosopher's Stone was the last chapter of his book, Curiosities of Olden Times, (1896). I've taken it as an allegory and made my own meager attempt to interpret it. Each of us has the right of interpretation.

Nathanial Hawthorne wrote a similar story in 1837. The Great Carbuncle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Carbuncle

Some of his books include:
The Book of Were-Wolves, being an account of a terrible superstition (1865)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG_ll409gC8&list=WLCF79584992C2B356

Curious Myths of the Middle Ages (1866)

Only a Ghost! (1870)
In Exitu Israel : an historical novel (1870) (About the French Revolution)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hei0h0JtxWQ
The Mystery of Suffering (1877)
Curiosities of Olden Times (1896)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb6fleFf-18&list=WLCF79584992C2B356

The golden gate (1869)

Here is a link to all of his books on archive.org
http://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Sabine+Baring+Gould%22

Several of his books  are available free in audio format from librivox.org