The chemical theatre

1 The hunting of the alchemist:. The modern image. The satirical image. "A multis amatur Alchymia'. 2 Three English alchemical texts. The mirror of alchimy. The compound of alchymy. The hieroglyphicall unit. 3 The rise of "chymicall physick'. Paracelsus. Metal-brewing Paracelsians. Some literary reactions. 4 A new chemical light: sources and reflections. An alchemical renaissance. The cloudy voice. 'Of wit and of Alcumie'. 5 Alchemical patterns in Jonson and Donne. Eastward Hoe: a chemical morality. Aurum palpabile. Love's alchemy. 6 Alchemical bearings on King Lear. The longissima via. The wheel of fire. An alchemical reconstruction. 7 The transmutation of King Lear. The king. The dragon. The daughter. The mortification. The fool. The fire. The blackness. The dew. The stone. Coda: Thomas Tymme's chymicall pathology. 8 Shakespeare's chemical theatre. The secret cave. Magister ludi

'...a study of alchemical symbols and themes in the work of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Drawing on original material--primarily the wealth of alchemical texts published around 1600--the author gives a precise account of what alchemy meant at that time. The eccentric, shady world of the alchemist emerges, but also a sense of the vigour and influence of alchemy as a philosophy....'

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