This is a major work investigating the realities behind the mythology of alchemy. Alchemy is an ancient but still practised science concerned with transformation: base metal into gold, mortal into immortal. It ultimately seeks to explain the mysteries of the universe, and therefore crosses the sacred-secular divide.
Though many have disputed its validity as true science, alchemy has attracted the attention of some of the world's foremost thinkers: Thomas Aquinas, Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, Yeats and Jung. Peter Marshall searches for the truth in his examination of primary source material from all over the world: historical investigation, literary archaeology and philosophical inquiry meet in his quest for the elusive empowering element which can make alchemy a reality: the legendary Philosopher's Stone.
