The Alchemist

The Alchemist is a historical novel about an aspiring young chemist who is a member of a Hermetic Lodge in the 16th Century. The brilliant youth is seeking wisdom and wishes to learn the secrets of Alchemy. The Holy Inquisition proclaims him a heretic. He is torn by his love for Hypatia, who is also a seeker of truth, and does not want to leave her, but he is forced to flee to save both of their lives.

His adventures lead him to Egypt and India, and he finally meets the great master Giordano Bruno who instructs him in the Mysteries of Transmutation. He knows that he must go back and share his newfound wisdom, but how can he do it without risking his life and the lives of those he loves?

In addition to being a best selling novel, The Alchemist is an extremely well-researched book which reveals much about the lost science of Alchemy and those who practiced it.