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yarnam01's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting read providing a scholarly overview of the history of alchemy and its relationship to modern day chemistry. In some of the most interesting parts of the book the author attempts to recreate alchemical experiments in order to understand their reported observations.
ashcomb's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up this book as research for my upcoming novel where my antagonist is an alchemist. This was just perfect for it. The book goes over the history of alchemy, the major alchemist (their thoughts and life and work), and the principles of alchemy, and of course, it discusses the quest for Philosopher's Stone. This book gives you a good general picture of alchemy. Its emphasis is on that alchemy was a genuine scientific discipline, and it advanced our understanding of metals, minerals, and chemical processes. But it is true that the "noble art" was cloaked with mystery as the alchemist used verbose language, symbolism, and allegories to hide their recipes. This is maybe the reason why alchemy has gained an esoteric and spiritual reputation. More so after chemistry took over and the likely hood of finding the recipe for Philosopher's Stone diminished.
The book was interesting to read. At times, it was a chore as there were so many facts, names, and minerals fitted into a small paragraph, and I wanted to remember and note them all, but it is understandable if you need to cram all know history in 281 pages (excluded Asia as according to the writer that differs a lot from western alchemy.) When I read this book, I was amazed at how rich the symbolism of alchemy was. How it has influenced art and poetry, and the other way around. How mercury and sulfur were portrayed as woman and man and their union hid behind alchemist recipes. Also, I found it amazing that the writer himself had tried out the Philosopher's Stones recipes and wrote what went wrong and what worked with them and why. Amazingly the key to getting the ancient recipes working was impurity and iron tools. The writer's passion and knowledge for the subject jumped out of the pages and made it easier to trust his writing.
I think this is a perfect summary of western alchemy and perfect for those who want to know more what the true art was all about.
The book was interesting to read. At times, it was a chore as there were so many facts, names, and minerals fitted into a small paragraph, and I wanted to remember and note them all, but it is understandable if you need to cram all know history in 281 pages (excluded Asia as according to the writer that differs a lot from western alchemy.) When I read this book, I was amazed at how rich the symbolism of alchemy was. How it has influenced art and poetry, and the other way around. How mercury and sulfur were portrayed as woman and man and their union hid behind alchemist recipes. Also, I found it amazing that the writer himself had tried out the Philosopher's Stones recipes and wrote what went wrong and what worked with them and why. Amazingly the key to getting the ancient recipes working was impurity and iron tools. The writer's passion and knowledge for the subject jumped out of the pages and made it easier to trust his writing.
I think this is a perfect summary of western alchemy and perfect for those who want to know more what the true art was all about.
tikitu's review
Textual history is freaking complicated... From pg 31: "The exact origin of the /[Emerald] Tablet/ remains obscure. Most evidence indicates that it was written centuries after the bulk of the philosophical or technical /Hermetica/, and that it is an original Arabic composition dating from the eighth century. No Greek precursor or any earlier Greek citations of it have been located despite exhaustive searches. It first appeared appended to a work which itself has complex and obscure origins, the /Book of the Secret of Creation/ (/Kitāb sirr al-khalīqa/) by one “Balīnūs,” an early ninth-century author writing in Arabic under the name of the much earlier Greek author Apollonios of Tyana. Balīnūs's work is itself a pastiche; newer materials are combined with an earlier Syriac text by a priest names Sajiyus of Nablus, which itself incorporates yet older Greek material. How exactly the /Tablet/ fits into this muddle remains unclear. Nevertheless, it seems safe enough to doubt the veracity of the account told in the /Book of the Secret of Creation/ that the text was discovered, written in Syriac on a tablet of green stone, clenched in the hands of an ancient corpse buried in a subterranean sepulcher hidden beneath a statue of Hermes Trismegistus."
101mystic's review
5.0
But Principe also talks about his own experiments and how they don't work by our modern understanding of elements and minerals. Still, by the alchemists' time allotted tools and understanding, they would think that it was the original item and not the continents. So sometimes recreating something with perfect, modern appliances and ingredients create something wholly different. There are even a few photos of such experiments in the book.
I found the book enlightening, and an exciting way to look at the science and logic behind something that is often associated with fraudsters. I also found the steps to be more believable than "they were all quacks." There is usually a logic to their thoughts, even if the logic starts at a remote area that no longer exists in our time.
The presentation of the information was easy to follow. Even as someone who does not have much of a background in chemistry, I was never confused. But everything is presented fairly and with descriptions as to the why of the matter.
If you are interested in some of the more science and anthropological view of alchemy in history, I would suggest reading it. I found it informative and easy to follow.
I found the book enlightening, and an exciting way to look at the science and logic behind something that is often associated with fraudsters. I also found the steps to be more believable than "they were all quacks." There is usually a logic to their thoughts, even if the logic starts at a remote area that no longer exists in our time.
The presentation of the information was easy to follow. Even as someone who does not have much of a background in chemistry, I was never confused. But everything is presented fairly and with descriptions as to the why of the matter.
If you are interested in some of the more science and anthropological view of alchemy in history, I would suggest reading it. I found it informative and easy to follow.
accospoot's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really fascinating book. I primarily wanted to read it for more cursory knowledge of the 17th and 18th centuries (knowing that Alchemy was in the midst of a golden age at that point) but found so much more.
With a background in chemistry the author (Lawrence Princip) is able to approach the highly overly mysticised subject of Alchemy, not falling into the trap of flippant dismissal or over-exhuberant delusions, instead approaching in rational terms and revealing the true craft and intellect of the Alchemist.
With a background in chemistry the author (Lawrence Princip) is able to approach the highly overly mysticised subject of Alchemy, not falling into the trap of flippant dismissal or over-exhuberant delusions, instead approaching in rational terms and revealing the true craft and intellect of the Alchemist.
allisonthurman's review against another edition
5.0
I've been researching the history of alchemy for a novel I'm writing and this is the first and only concise history I've found on this overwhelming topic. If you're interested in the history of medieval and early modern alchemy (as opposed to modern/spiritual interpretations) START HERE!
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