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 and 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.
