num_pages: 281
description: Alchemy the Noble Art conjures up scenes of mysterious dimly lit laboratories populated with bearded old men stirring cauldrons. Though the history of alchemy is intricately linked to the history of chemistry alchemy has nonetheless often been dismissed as the realm of myth and magic or fraud and pseudoscience. And while its themes and ideas persist in some expected and unexpected places from the Philosophers (or Sorcerers) Stone of Harry Potter to the self-help mantra of transformation there has not been a serious accessible and up-to-date look at the complete history and influence of alchemy until now.In The Secrets of Alchemy Lawrence M. Principe one of the worlds leading authorities on the subject brings alchemy out of the shadows and restores it to its important place in human history and culture. By surveying what alchemy was and how it began developed and overlapped with a range of ideas and pursuits Principe illuminates the practice. He vividly depicts the place of alchemy during its heyday in early modern Europe and then explores how alchemy has fit into wider views of the cosmos and humanity touching on its enduring place in literature fine art theater and religion as well as its recent acceptance as a serious subject of study for historians of science. In addition he introduces the reader to some of the most fascinating alchemists such as Zosimos and Basil Valentine whose lives dot alchemys long reign from the third century and down to the present day. Through his exploration of alchemists and their times Principe pieces together closely guarded clues from obscure and fragmented texts to reveal alchemys secrets andmost exciting for budding alchemistsuses them to recreate many of the most famous recipes in his lab including those for the glass of antimony and philosophers tree. This unique approach brings the reader closer to the actual work of alchemy than any other book.A concise but illuminating history The Secrets of Alchemy is written for anyone drawn to the alchemical arts those who are fascinated by the science as well as the fantastic stories and mysterious practitioners.
language: English
title: The Secrets of Alchemy
publisher: University of Chicago Press