The Secrets of Alchemy (Synthesis)

The first thing to note about this book is that the title is somewhat misleading. It would be more accurate to call it a history of alchemy. I was nearly put off buying it because of its title, but in retrospect I'm glad I wasn't, because it's a very interesting book. What the author sets out to do is to restore an understanding alchemy within its historical and cultural framework. I think he succeeds in this aim. There is in Western society a tendency to think of alchemy as being something vaguely to do with magic - but nothing could be further from the truth. The work of most alchemists would be recognized today as experimentally rigorous, and based on the best theories of the nature of matter that existed at the time. Take, for instance, the search for the legendary Philosopher's Stone, the secret of turning lead into gold. We know that's not possible to do chemically today. Why do we know that? Because we know that lead and gold are elements. The elements are defined by the number of protons in their nucleus. Chemical reactions only work on the electrons in atoms, and you can't change the make up of an atomic nucleus by fiddling with its electrons. But we didn't find this out until about a hundred years ago. In the golden age of alchemy, which roughly coincides with the Scientific Revolution (1500-1700), the belief was that matter was a compound, and the properties of any given piece of matter were determined by the proportions of more fundamental substances. Theoretically, if this were the case it should have been possible to change, for instance, lead into gold by altering those proportions in lead until they matched the proportions that defined gold. It was this theoretical view that drove the search for a substance that alter these proportions. (This is a simplified view the book explains in much more detail.) The book covers the history of alchemy from it's beginnings in the third century AD through to its effective demise at the end of the 19th Century. Along the way it it discusses many other aspects of alchemy, including its impact on early medicine, laboratory work, and chemistry. It also looks in more depth at some of the work of famous alchemists, including the attempts of the author to recreate their work in the lab - with interesting results. Well worth a read if you have any interest in the history of science.

Clear, concise, readable account of alchemy from Greco-Egyptian origins to the modern era, by a recognised, leading scholar of the subject. Recommended!

An interesting account of the history of alchemy. I was hoping for a little more on the early, graeco-roman period, but the lack of material is historical, and not the author's fault. He makes an interesting case for the theories of some of the Arabic alchemists to be considered as proto-scientific. This is not a book for New Age types, but for those with a rational interest in the subject.

Purchased as a gift for my son, he loved it

For me, who was looking for, and is interested in "spiritual alchemy", it was very disappointing to read in this book, about the history, and developmet of alchemy. another illusion, and romantic notion shattered. But that does not mean is is a badly written, or badly informed book. The writer seems to know, both in practice and theory, what he is writing about, and his writing style, is also, not to bad.Just a shame.

This inordinately lucid and elegant narrative presents an overview of the history of alchemy. After years of indiscriminate and ignorant denunciations and sensationalist exploitation of the subject the author's sober and respectful attitude comes as a breath of fresh air. Highly recommended to everybody interested in the subject.

fascinating myth debunking. very readable and to-the-point. the fact the author did his own alchemy experiments and details his results sets this book about from the rest

A readable, rational approach which explains the mumbo-jumbo without condecension. By the standards of the times, alchemy was a model of clarity compared with theology, for instance. (It still is!) The author describes his 'hands-on' repeats of some 'Alchemical' procedures......and they work.

プリンチーペ、「錬金術の秘密」の原書。分かりやすく平易な英語で書かれていて、思い切って原書を購入して良かった。日本語の翻訳版は少し高価であり、電子版では辞書機能もあり便利だった。当初は「ルネサンスバロックのブックガイド」を参照して気になったので購入した。

Livro atualizado com varias referencias o autor mostra seus experimentos em alquimia em que mostra a eficácia de muitos experimentos em se produzir resultados químicos em destilação o que quebra o conceito popular de a alquimia era pura especulação. Para o autor a alquimia em sua forte experimentação apresenta características que mais tarde serão desenvolvidas na Revolução Cientifica. O livro está muito alinhado com o Destilling Knowledge do Bruce Moran, os dois se complementam.

Trovare un buon libro sull'alchimia è un'impresa ardua. Ho incominciato ad interessarmi a questa tecnica leggendo la biografia di Newton, il quale la studiava tanto approfonditamente quanto la sua matematica e la meccanica. L'alchimia - checché ne dica l'imperante verbo riduzionista - è prima di tutto un fenomeno culturale, una fase indispensabile nello sviluppo delle scienze naturali, che occupava i massimi studiosi per mille e cinquecento anni della storia umana. Ritengo che questo sia un libro che puo' essere citato dall'inizio fino alla fine. È incredibilmente informativo, dinamico e ammaliante. L'apoteosi della narrazione è la ricreazione di reazioni alchemiche da fonti medievali nel laboratorio dell'autore, con formule e fotografie. Ad esempio, l'autore riesce a ottenere l'evaporazione dell'oro e la sua sublimazione sotto forma di cristalli rossi (il sangue di drago) ma solo dopo lunghi e persistenti tentativi di ricreare accuratamente il processo da un testo cifrato. L'evaporazione dell'oro era considerata da molti un passaggio fondamentale per ottenere la pietra filosofale ed era persino descritta come "fortitudo fortitudinis fortissima" (la più complessa complessità della complessità). Anche in condizioni moderne, nelle apposite beute e a temperatura controllata, l'autore descrive il processo come “estremamente difficile”, ma comunque possibile. Un altro esempio è la produzione del “mercurio filosofico”, in questo caso l'antimonio metallico, e la “rivitalizzazione” dell'oro con questo antimonio. Il processo durò un mese all'autore, ma una mattina scoprì che improvvisamente un pezzo di lega amorfo si trasformò in un "albero filosofico" (una massa argentea di cristalli).

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.

Exactly what I was looking for.