Alchemy [Paperback]

Maureen Duffy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2007

Jade Green's life takes a turn for the bizarre when she accepts a curious legal case—that of a university professor accused of Satanism. As Jade delves into the strange circumstances of his dismissal, she finds herself drawn into a 17th-century manuscript, the original of which has been stolen from the professor's briefcase. It is the diary of Amyntas Boston, a young woman—raised as a boy—awaiting trial for dabbling in witchcraft. As past and present intertwine, Jade feels her life curiously resonating with that of Amyntas.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Deftly handles the movement between two worlds, four centuries apart. Her range of cultural reference is dazzling.' Literary Review 'Riveting ... blending passion, wit, and witchcraft to sparkling effect.' Daily Mail 'A fascinating coda to the history of the twentieth century politically engaged novel ... a novel that bristles with ideas.' Sunday Times 'A novel of high emotion and devious stratagems ... I read avidly to the (literally) incendiary close.' Spectator Praise for Maureen Duffy: 'Maureen Duffy is one of the few British writers of fiction of real class' Financial Times 'An experienced, prolific novelist; nothing she writes can fail.' Daily Telegraph 'Maureen Duffy is one of Britain's foremost writers.' Guardian

About the Author

A prolific poet and playwright, Maureen Duffy published her first novel, That's How It Was, in 1962. She is the author of the Londoners Trilogy and has written biographies of Purcell and Aphra Behn.

Product Details

• Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9997021452
• ISBN-13: 978-0007149667
• ASIN: 0007149662
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,974,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars There was a great book in here, struggling to get out..., October 15, 2005

By 

LBM "Elbyem" (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alchemy (Hardcover)

...past the strangely lethargic modern and Tudor heroines. What could've been two absorbing stories are dragged down by the primary characters, who never seem to progress to maturity, self-insight, nor motivation to take charge of their own lives. Their shared static quality holds back the momentum of the entire book.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 17th century glass ceiling, September 7, 2006

By 

Beverley Strong (Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alchemy (Hardcover)

Solicitor, Jade Green, accepts a case from a former lecturer at a small, private university from which he was sacked for going against the religious tenets of the Dean. The Professor feels that there was more to his sacking than meets the eye and that greed and corruption are more likely to be the answer than any invented reasons. He has a 17th century manuscript which purports to be that of a young trainee physician who impersonates a man because of the distrust of women in any other role than that of the traditional wife and mother. Jade's story and that of her 17th century counterpart, runs along parallel lines, with both yong women showing decided leanings towards lesbianism, although the story doesn't go into any great detail about their sex lives. The recipes, or receipts as they are called in earlier times, are fascinating and lead one to wonder whether they killed more than they cured, and the utter helplessness of women in those times was apalling when it only took the word of a man, any man, to condemn them out of hand to a life in jail or worse. I have long given up any romantic ideas about living in earlier times, and am only too grateful to be here in the 21st century.