Book of Alchemy: History, Symbols, Practice

The anthology includes popular science essays dedicated to the history of the emergence and development of alchemy, such as "Alchemy and Modern Science" by I.I. Kanonnikov, "Theories and Symbols of Alchemists" by Albert Poisson, and actual alchemical works that open the door to the laboratory of a medieval mage-alchemist: treatises like "The Twelve Keys of Wisdom" by Basil Valentine, "On the Stone of Philosophers and Above All on the Bodies of the Supra-Celestial" and "On the Art of Alchemy" by St. Thomas Aquinas, and "Chemical Psalter, or Philosophical Guide" by Theophrastus Paracelsus. The texts are accompanied by the compiler's comments, and at the end of the book, there are brief biographical sketches of the most famous scientists who played a significant role in the development of alchemical theory and practice, as well as a list of some symbolic signs of alchemy and hermeticism with explanations of their meanings.