Alchemy has appealed to the imagination of man for centuries and is evident from the prominent part it plays in the legends and romances of the past. At its dawn, alchemy was regarded as a divine and sacred art, enveloped in mystery, that was only to be approached with reverence. Its adepts held its secrets inviolate, enshrouded their operations with symbolism, and gave their materials fantastic names so as to conceal their identity from those outside the mystic cult. In this volume, Thompson unravels these mysteries and presents his findings to the reader. Handsomely illustrated.