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Alchemy
It is exceedingly gratifying to me that a second edition of this book should be called for. But still more welcome is the change in the attitude of the educated world towards the old-time alchemists and their theories which has taken place during the past few years. The theory of the origin of Alchemy put forward in Chapter I has led to considerable discussion; but whilst this theory has met with general acceptance, some of its earlier critics took it as implying far more than is actually the case. As a result of further research my conviction of its truth has become more fully confirmed, and in my recent work entitled Bygone Beliefs (Rider, 1920), under the title of “The Quest of the Philosopher’s Stone,” I have found it possible to adduce further evidence in this connection. At the same time, whilst I became increasingly convinced that the main alchemistic hypotheses were drawn from the domain of mystical theology and applied to physics and chemistry by way of analogy, it also became evident to me that the crude physiology of bygone ages and remnants of the old phallic faith formed a further and subsidiary source of alchemistic theory. I have barely, if at all, touched on this matter in the present work; the reader who is interested will find it dealt with in some detail in “The Phallic Element in Alchemical Doctrine” in my Bygone Beliefs.
124 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 25, 2017
The book offers a simple, down-to-earth, overview on the most important alchemical theories, which is done in its first half (or less). The rest is about the most notable alchemists. From then on, the book gets really summarized, shallow and dull. But I guess this unfortunate unfolding would not be badly explained by bearing in mind the original intention of the author, which is, to interpret Alchemy as the flourishing chemistry, that is, its extrovert side, as Jung would fairly put it. And he does that with rare respect to these magic pioneers.
Much of what is taught in this book is elsewhere concealed within the majestic veil of allegory. So I guess it's worth to be looked into.
Much of what is taught in this book is elsewhere concealed within the majestic veil of allegory. So I guess it's worth to be looked into.
August 15, 2013
This is a good book for people who don't know much about the history of Alchemy and are interested in beginning to learn. I think that those who are already acquainted with the practice will find this text a bit boring, but as somebody who knew nothing about alchemy going in, I quite liked it.
June 17, 2022
Excellent overview of the subject
This book is a great overview of alchemy. It is NOT a practical manual. Unfortunately, the latter portion of the book is concerned with "modern" alchemy; which is speculation on recently, at the time, occurring study of radiation as it may fit in with alchemy. As this book was written in the early 1900s, a great deal of the speculation has since been disproved. They speak of the ether as a scientific fact, etc. That is not to say that all the information in the latter portion of the book has no merit. There are nuggets of gold to be gleaned from these pages.
This book is a great overview of alchemy. It is NOT a practical manual. Unfortunately, the latter portion of the book is concerned with "modern" alchemy; which is speculation on recently, at the time, occurring study of radiation as it may fit in with alchemy. As this book was written in the early 1900s, a great deal of the speculation has since been disproved. They speak of the ether as a scientific fact, etc. That is not to say that all the information in the latter portion of the book has no merit. There are nuggets of gold to be gleaned from these pages.
April 7, 2019
A good defense for alchemy, that many modern people have shrugged off to be something unrealistic, put things in perspective regarding alchemy, and mysticism, while also giving scientific teachings centered around facts.
April 21, 2018
This book is terribly boring.
June 28, 2021
Seandainya buku ini terbaca ketika pertama kali aku dikenakan pada ilmu kimia....
August 19, 2013
A good entry level introduction into the Alchemical world.
Most useful is the list of books, authors and practioners that accompanies the end of each chapter; the reader can use it to search Project Gutenberg, or the Internet Archive for the relevent texts.
Also insightful is the trace the author presents, following alchemy as it mutates into the pharmaceutical school, and the later resurgance of research into the realms of 'radioactivity'.
Most useful is the list of books, authors and practioners that accompanies the end of each chapter; the reader can use it to search Project Gutenberg, or the Internet Archive for the relevent texts.
Also insightful is the trace the author presents, following alchemy as it mutates into the pharmaceutical school, and the later resurgance of research into the realms of 'radioactivity'.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews