
The Secrets of Alchemy
Lawrence M. Principe(Author)
University of Chicago Press
Published on 18. November 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-226-10379-2 (ISBN)
Description
In The Secrets of Alchemy, Lawrence M. Principe, one of the world's 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 alchemy's long reign from the third century 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 alchemy's secrets, and - most exciting for budding alchemists - uses 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.
Through his exploration of alchemists and their times, Principe pieces together closely guarded clues from obscure and fragmented texts to reveal alchemy's secrets, and - most exciting for budding alchemists - uses 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.
Reviews / Votes
"The Secrets of Alchemy comes closer than any other single work to explaining the grounds-rational and empirical, as well as religious and wishful-for alchemy's longevity. Lawrence M. Principe's delightful writing style brings to life a depth of learning matched by few in the field." (Nature) "An elegant, readable book, packed with information and revelation." (Anthony Grafton, Science) "Lawrence M. Principe has long been at the vanguard of scholars who seek to show that alchemists were really early chemists, not blindly struggling to turn substances into gold but operating, like scientists today, within an intellectual framework that guided their practical work. In The Secrets of Alchemy, an elegantly written summary of two decades of his own research, Principe describes this framework." (Wall Street Journal)"More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Chicago
United States
Publishing group
The University of Chicago Press
Illustrations
12 color plates, 23 halftones, 4 line drawings
Dimensions
Height: 226 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
500 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-226-10379-2 (9780226103792)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Lawrence M. Principe
The Secrets of Alchemy
E-Book
03/2020
University of Chicago Press
€18.18
Available for download

Lawrence M. Principe
The Secrets of Alchemy
Book
11/2012
University of Chicago Press
€23.56
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Person
Lawrence M. Principe is the Drew Professor of the Humanities in the Department of the History of Science and Technology and the Department of Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University. His books include Alchemy Tried in the Fire: Starkey, Boyle, and the Fate of Helmontian Chymistry, also published by the University of Chicago Press.