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Miranty and the Alchemist
In the time of Elizabeth I, a young girl left in the care of her alchemist uncle is transported to fantastic realms populated by supernatural beings through her uncle's knowledge of magic.
116 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1983
About the author
Vera Chapman
39 books40 followersVera Chapman, also known as Vera Ivy May Fogerty or, in The Tolkien Society, as Belladonna Took. She founded The Tolkien Society, and also wrote a number of psudeo-historical and Arthurian books.
She was born in Bournemouth, England on the 8 May 1898 and lived in South Africa until she went to Oxford where she was one of the first woman to matriculate as a full member of Oxford University. She founded the first Tolkien Society of which she was secretary. She persuaded J R R Tolkien to become the society's honorary president. She wrote her first novel in 1975 and continued writing until her death in 1996.
She was born in Bournemouth, England on the 8 May 1898 and lived in South Africa until she went to Oxford where she was one of the first woman to matriculate as a full member of Oxford University. She founded the first Tolkien Society of which she was secretary. She persuaded J R R Tolkien to become the society's honorary president. She wrote her first novel in 1975 and continued writing until her death in 1996.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 30, 2025
Free to borrow from OpenLibrary, but, alas, not the edition illustrated by David Wiesner, which I was very keen to see! (I have already forgotten the name of the illustrator in the 1987 edition, but I did enjoy the pictures anyway).
A quick read, we follow 11 year old Mirante (Lat./Ital. "wondering"), who calls herself Miranty, living in the time of Elizabeth the I and Sir Francis Drake (indeed, Drake has just set sail on the Pelican with Miranty's father aboard). Her strange Uncle, an Alchemist, has moved in to care for her and the many-staffed household of the manor, while the circumnavigation attempt is underway.
Soon enough, Miranty is employed as her Uncle's 'Columba' - like the dove from Noah's Ark, searching for land. She is sent via magic successively through the 4 elements, either alone or with her Uncle, and faces temptation and danger. A Lamia, in this case taking the form of a 2-dimensional cat-like shadowy thing, is her constant adversary, as well as Mother Malison, local witch.
The plot is a bit thin in why Miranty is acting as Columba, but it's the elemental creatures and experiences that steal the spotlight: gnomes hiding jewels underground; river spirits (incl. the Thames and Dart), merfolk and hippocampi and King Triton; sylphs of the air and wind and gigantes of the storms; and of course salamanders for the kingdom of fire... it's lovely in a Fantasia sort of magical way. It's a good thing Miranty is such a good and pious little girl. A cute story that will offend few, I think, but still has enough content to capture the imagination.
Oh, and it's free to borrow and very mildly educational - find out about Drake's voyage in the Golden Hind and the fashions of the day (ruffs, shoulder top-knots, farthingales, stomach boards, etc.).
Did I mention free? Free is good. :)
4 is a bit generous, but hey - fast and free. Give it a go!
A quick read, we follow 11 year old Mirante (Lat./Ital. "wondering"), who calls herself Miranty, living in the time of Elizabeth the I and Sir Francis Drake (indeed, Drake has just set sail on the Pelican with Miranty's father aboard). Her strange Uncle, an Alchemist, has moved in to care for her and the many-staffed household of the manor, while the circumnavigation attempt is underway.
Soon enough, Miranty is employed as her Uncle's 'Columba' - like the dove from Noah's Ark, searching for land. She is sent via magic successively through the 4 elements, either alone or with her Uncle, and faces temptation and danger. A Lamia, in this case taking the form of a 2-dimensional cat-like shadowy thing, is her constant adversary, as well as Mother Malison, local witch.
The plot is a bit thin in why Miranty is acting as Columba, but it's the elemental creatures and experiences that steal the spotlight: gnomes hiding jewels underground; river spirits (incl. the Thames and Dart), merfolk and hippocampi and King Triton; sylphs of the air and wind and gigantes of the storms; and of course salamanders for the kingdom of fire... it's lovely in a Fantasia sort of magical way. It's a good thing Miranty is such a good and pious little girl. A cute story that will offend few, I think, but still has enough content to capture the imagination.
Oh, and it's free to borrow and very mildly educational - find out about Drake's voyage in the Golden Hind and the fashions of the day (ruffs, shoulder top-knots, farthingales, stomach boards, etc.).
Did I mention free? Free is good. :)
4 is a bit generous, but hey - fast and free. Give it a go!
July 23, 2015
I LOVED this book when I was a kid. The story and illustrations deeply affected my world. I still have my old old copy.
<3
<3
May 17, 2020
Absolutely captives the imagination of ones creativity and connection with earth and its divine energy!
1st book I read as a child. #Grateful 🌐🖖🦋
1st book I read as a child. #Grateful 🌐🖖🦋
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2016
Creepy little story with an alchemical basis.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews