A 400-year history of the development of alchemy in England that brings to light the evolution of the practice.

In medieval and early modern Europe, the practice of alchemy promised extraordinary physical transformations. Who would not be amazed to see base metals turned into silver and gold, hard iron into soft water, and deadly poison into elixirs that could heal the human body? To defend such claims, alchemists turned to the past, scouring ancient books for evidence of a lost alchemical heritage and seeking to translate their secret language and obscure imagery into replicable, practical effects.

Tracing the development of alchemy in England over four hundred years, from the beginning of the fourteenth century to the end of the seventeenth, Jennifer M. Rampling illuminates the role of alchemical reading and experimental practice in the broader context of national and scientific history. Using new manuscript sources, she shows how practitioners like George Ripley, John Dee, and Edward Kelley, as well as many previously unknown alchemists, devised new practical approaches to alchemy while seeking the support of English monarchs. By reconstructing their alchemical ideas, practices, and disputes, Rampling reveals how English alchemy was continually reinvented over the space of four centuries, resulting in changes to the science itself. In so doing, The Experimental Fire bridges the intellectual history of chemistry and the wider worlds of early modern patronage, medicine, and science.

About the Author

Jennifer M. Rampling is associate professor of history at Princeton University.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Book Dispensary
ON, Canada

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Items can be returned for full refund in cases when their condition was not accurately described. All other sales are final.

Shipping Terms

Shipping rates from Canada to U.S.A.

Shipping rates from Canada to U.S.A.
Order quantity	4 to 8 business days	3 to 4 business days
First item	US$ 6.99	US$ 12.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.