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The Chemical Choir: A History of Alchemy
A pre-cursor to contemporary chemistry and physics, alchemy began as the pursuit of knowledge, initially in China as a search for the secret of immortality, and appearing independently in Egypt as an attempt to produce gold through the arts of smelting and alloying metals. In The Chemical Choir, P.G. Maxwell-Stewart authoritatively traces the fascinating history of alchemy from its earliest incarnations right up to its legacy in modern science as we know it today.
Continuing from its roots in China and Egypt, alchemy received a great boost in Europe from work done by Islamic and Jewish alchemists, whose written accounts were translated into Latin and combined with what was known of Greek natural science to produce an outburst of attempts to manipulate matter and change it into transformative substances called the Philosopher's stone and the elixir of life. Alchemy's heyday in Europe was the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as practiced by the great minds of the age of Reason, including, among others, Sir Isaac Newton.
During this time, demonstrations of the alchemist's art were performed in royal courts under conditions meant to obviate any fraud, and specimens of the gold so transmuted can be seen in various museums. During the nineteenth century, attempts were made to amalgamate alchemy with the religious and occult philosophies then growing in popularity; and in the twentieth century psychologists--principally Carl Jung--perceived in alchemy a powerful vehicle for aspects of their theories about human nature. At the same time, laboratory scientists continued to experiment in ways very similar to those of their medieval and early modern forebears.
A lively overview of alchemy and its practitioners from the earliest times to the present, P.G. Maxwell-Stuart explores the changing importance and interest in alchemy through its historical, cultural, and intellectual contexts, revealing that the study of alchemy is not merely one of the stranger byways of antiquarianism, but rather a living part of the history of science itself.
Continuing from its roots in China and Egypt, alchemy received a great boost in Europe from work done by Islamic and Jewish alchemists, whose written accounts were translated into Latin and combined with what was known of Greek natural science to produce an outburst of attempts to manipulate matter and change it into transformative substances called the Philosopher's stone and the elixir of life. Alchemy's heyday in Europe was the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as practiced by the great minds of the age of Reason, including, among others, Sir Isaac Newton.
During this time, demonstrations of the alchemist's art were performed in royal courts under conditions meant to obviate any fraud, and specimens of the gold so transmuted can be seen in various museums. During the nineteenth century, attempts were made to amalgamate alchemy with the religious and occult philosophies then growing in popularity; and in the twentieth century psychologists--principally Carl Jung--perceived in alchemy a powerful vehicle for aspects of their theories about human nature. At the same time, laboratory scientists continued to experiment in ways very similar to those of their medieval and early modern forebears.
A lively overview of alchemy and its practitioners from the earliest times to the present, P.G. Maxwell-Stuart explores the changing importance and interest in alchemy through its historical, cultural, and intellectual contexts, revealing that the study of alchemy is not merely one of the stranger byways of antiquarianism, but rather a living part of the history of science itself.
200 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
13 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
P.G. Maxwell-Stuart
39 books12 followersPeter G. Maxwell-Stuart is a Research Fellow in the Department of History at the University of Aberdeen and an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of History in the University of St. Andrews.
Source: Macmillan
Source: Macmillan
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 8, 2018
In brief: This is a reasonably academic history of the beliefs which have formed around alchemy throughout history.
Thoughts: This was an interesting and informative read, though I did find myself wading through academic sentences and rereading paragraphs a fair bit (mostly because the pseudoscientific jargon and methodology is traditionally and deliberately hard to follow). Maxwell-Stuart is very thorough, covering Asian, Islamic, and Western alchemies and citing everything from alchemic manuals to plays to paintings to build his history.
My biggest critique is that, though Maxwell-Stuart dedicates a chapter each to Ancient China, to India, and to the Islamic world, he doesn’t trace those alchemic traditions through to the present day, the way he does with the West. I find it hard to believe that there aren’t still people in Asia interested in transmutation or natural healing or the spiritual sides of alchemy, or that Maxwell-Stuart couldn’t find documents or testimony related to that, given how keen he is to trace Western alchemy into the early parts of the twentieth century. Instead, he just kind of sets the stage for the next tradition and moves on.
Overall, though, Maxwell-Stuart’s done a good job of tracing the history and presenting the evidence for historical continuity, and of explaining the beliefs and jargon the best anyone can. I learned a lot, it gave me a new lens to view early modern secret societies, early chemistry, and Edwardian spiritualism, and I think reading this helped me plug a plot hole to boot. It’s definitely a good book but not one I’m likely to recommend to many people, because the subjct’s kind of niche.
Warnings: Nope.
8/10
Thoughts: This was an interesting and informative read, though I did find myself wading through academic sentences and rereading paragraphs a fair bit (mostly because the pseudoscientific jargon and methodology is traditionally and deliberately hard to follow). Maxwell-Stuart is very thorough, covering Asian, Islamic, and Western alchemies and citing everything from alchemic manuals to plays to paintings to build his history.
My biggest critique is that, though Maxwell-Stuart dedicates a chapter each to Ancient China, to India, and to the Islamic world, he doesn’t trace those alchemic traditions through to the present day, the way he does with the West. I find it hard to believe that there aren’t still people in Asia interested in transmutation or natural healing or the spiritual sides of alchemy, or that Maxwell-Stuart couldn’t find documents or testimony related to that, given how keen he is to trace Western alchemy into the early parts of the twentieth century. Instead, he just kind of sets the stage for the next tradition and moves on.
Overall, though, Maxwell-Stuart’s done a good job of tracing the history and presenting the evidence for historical continuity, and of explaining the beliefs and jargon the best anyone can. I learned a lot, it gave me a new lens to view early modern secret societies, early chemistry, and Edwardian spiritualism, and I think reading this helped me plug a plot hole to boot. It’s definitely a good book but not one I’m likely to recommend to many people, because the subjct’s kind of niche.
Warnings: Nope.
8/10
August 29, 2023
Book of the Day – The Chemical Choir: A History of Alchemy
Today’s Book of the Day is THE CHEMICAL CHOIR: A HISTORY OF ALCHEMY, written by Peter G. Maxwell-Stuart in 2012 and published by Continuum.
Peter G. Maxwell-Stuart is a Research Fellow in the Department of History at the University of Aberdeen and an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of St. Andrews.
I have chosen this book because Maxwell-Stuart is an author I know quite well, having read most if not all of his books and Alchemy, as you know, is one of my favourite research topics.
THE CHEMICAL CHOIR is a positive addition to the literature on Alchemy, being an insightful and comprehensive exploration of this fascinating world. The book is meant to provide readers with no previous knowledge of the matter the key elements to have a first understanding, by mixing meticulous research, engaging narrative, and alchemical history.
One of the most commendable aspects of Maxwell-Stuart‘s book is its historical accuracy. Alchemy is a complex and multifaceted subject that spans centuries and cultures, and the author takes great care in tracing its origins, development, and transformation over time by providing many figures, texts, and experiments to better engage the curious.
The book demystifies the many preconceptions and negative biases about alchemy. The author debunks these misconceptions and wrong notions, emphasizing the diversity of alchemical pursuits and delving into the philosophical, spiritual, and practical dimensions of alchemy, clearly showing how it was not just a quest to turn metals into gold but rather a profound pursuit of knowledge, transformation, and enlightenment.
The book is structured into a well-organized series of chapters that guide the reader through the fascinating journey of Alchemy. It begins with setting the stage by introducing the central themes and questions that it seeks to address. From there, the book unfolds into several chapters that explore the history of Alchemy from its roots in antiquity to its development in the Islamic World, Medieval Europe, and Asia.
The journey continues with a deep dive into alchemical philosophy, practical aspects of doing Alchemy in a laboratory, and the rich relationship between Alchemy and science, medicine and other disciplines,
Maxwell-Stuart‘s writing style is engaging and accessible, making this book more suitable for general readers than for expert ones. Yet, he strikes a balance between academic rigour and storytelling, ensuring that the narrative flows smoothly without sacrificing historical accuracy.
THE CHEMICAL CHOIR brilliantly contextualizes Alchemy within the broader historical and cultural landscape it grew in. Maxwell-Stuart explores the influence of Alchemy on other relevant fields such as medicine, chemistry, and art, highlighting its lasting impact on human thought and innovation and shaping the course of history.
THE CHEMICAL CHOIR is a well-written and well-researched work that offers a nuanced perspective on the intricate world of Alchemy. The author’s expertise in the subject is clearly visible, making this book an interesting read for anyone seeking a primer to start a journey into Alchemy‘s historical, philosophical, and cultural dimensions.
Today’s Book of the Day is THE CHEMICAL CHOIR: A HISTORY OF ALCHEMY, written by Peter G. Maxwell-Stuart in 2012 and published by Continuum.
Peter G. Maxwell-Stuart is a Research Fellow in the Department of History at the University of Aberdeen and an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of St. Andrews.
I have chosen this book because Maxwell-Stuart is an author I know quite well, having read most if not all of his books and Alchemy, as you know, is one of my favourite research topics.
THE CHEMICAL CHOIR is a positive addition to the literature on Alchemy, being an insightful and comprehensive exploration of this fascinating world. The book is meant to provide readers with no previous knowledge of the matter the key elements to have a first understanding, by mixing meticulous research, engaging narrative, and alchemical history.
One of the most commendable aspects of Maxwell-Stuart‘s book is its historical accuracy. Alchemy is a complex and multifaceted subject that spans centuries and cultures, and the author takes great care in tracing its origins, development, and transformation over time by providing many figures, texts, and experiments to better engage the curious.
The book demystifies the many preconceptions and negative biases about alchemy. The author debunks these misconceptions and wrong notions, emphasizing the diversity of alchemical pursuits and delving into the philosophical, spiritual, and practical dimensions of alchemy, clearly showing how it was not just a quest to turn metals into gold but rather a profound pursuit of knowledge, transformation, and enlightenment.
The book is structured into a well-organized series of chapters that guide the reader through the fascinating journey of Alchemy. It begins with setting the stage by introducing the central themes and questions that it seeks to address. From there, the book unfolds into several chapters that explore the history of Alchemy from its roots in antiquity to its development in the Islamic World, Medieval Europe, and Asia.
The journey continues with a deep dive into alchemical philosophy, practical aspects of doing Alchemy in a laboratory, and the rich relationship between Alchemy and science, medicine and other disciplines,
Maxwell-Stuart‘s writing style is engaging and accessible, making this book more suitable for general readers than for expert ones. Yet, he strikes a balance between academic rigour and storytelling, ensuring that the narrative flows smoothly without sacrificing historical accuracy.
THE CHEMICAL CHOIR brilliantly contextualizes Alchemy within the broader historical and cultural landscape it grew in. Maxwell-Stuart explores the influence of Alchemy on other relevant fields such as medicine, chemistry, and art, highlighting its lasting impact on human thought and innovation and shaping the course of history.
THE CHEMICAL CHOIR is a well-written and well-researched work that offers a nuanced perspective on the intricate world of Alchemy. The author’s expertise in the subject is clearly visible, making this book an interesting read for anyone seeking a primer to start a journey into Alchemy‘s historical, philosophical, and cultural dimensions.
March 13, 2021
Very well researched and nicely organized. Gives a very good narrative of the history of an art that is typically shrouded in mystery. It can be a little dry but it's not a terrible read. 6/10
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October 28, 2009As the cover art indicates, this work is intended for a popular audience. But it's backed up by decent scholarship, and covers a lot of ground in spite of its length. A good survey for anyone wanting to learn more about chemistry's predecessor. Points also to Maxwell-Stuart for making an effort to include women among his subjects. My copy is a paperback ARC that I picked up secondhand — no index, alas!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews