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Chargement... The Chemical Choir: A History of Alchemypar P. G. Maxwell-Stuart
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P.G. Maxwell-Stuart presents the history of alchemy traced from its earliest roots through to its influence in modern-day science. Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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Google Books — Chargement... GenresClassification décimale de Melvil (CDD)540.112Natural sciences and mathematics Chemistry Chemistry Theory And Instruction AlchemyClassification de la Bibliothèque du CongrèsÉvaluationMoyenne:
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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 ( )