Alchemists and gold, [Hardcover]

Jacques Sadoul (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 285 pages
• Publisher: Spearman; First Edition edition (1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0854351310
• ISBN-13: 978-0854351312
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,115,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tome that holds golden clues, July 1, 2003

By 

Joshua Wiskey (Paris, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alchemists and gold (Hardcover)

A fascinating book, comprising a general introduction and overview, a collection of historically based stories of the lives and appearances of alchemists throughout western history that aims to demonstrate the existence of a knowledge outside of modern science's comprehension yet far older and more comprehensive, and concluding with an exploration of the alchemist's lengthy methods and reasons for transmuting base metals into gold.
Throughout the book, if one has any understanding of esoteric thought, it is possible to find the truth.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Now that gold is expensive you will want to make your own., December 18, 2010

By 

bernie "xyzzy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Alchemists and gold (Hardcover)

Just kidding. This is really not a how-to book.

The reemerging fascination of soft skills and magic it is only natural that people's thoughts will be turned to alchemists. Did they really live? Who were they? Did their existence have any effect on our lives today?

This book gives a general overview about real and popular alchemists such as Paracelsus. In the process of reading of alchemists in their lives we also get a different view or insight the histories of Kings and politics.

The book is translated from the French original. There are black-and-white diagrams and a few formulas. We have an appendix of people that lived a tad longer than they were supposed to. Which makes us suspect that they might offend the elixir of life. There's a fairly good glossary for people that are not familiar with the names used of people and items associated with alchemy. And we even have an index allowing us to cross check on people such as Charles I the king of England.

All in all it's a fairly easy read and extracts the real story welcome me through the ages from all the contemporary fiction floating around out there today.