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Book Reviews of The Arcanum: The Extraordinary True Story

The Arcanum: The Extraordinary True Story
The Arcanum The Extraordinary True Story
Author: Janet Gleeson
ISBN-13: 9780446524995
ISBN-10: 0446524999
Publication Date: 2/1999
Pages: 324
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 7

3.5 stars, based on 7 ratings
Publisher: Warner Books Inc
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

4 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The Arcanum: The Extraordinary True Story on + 3352 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
An extremely interesting book. So much so, and so full of the wild doings of people, intrigues, and cliff-hanging problems, that people who prefer fiction will enjoy this book. Made me realize that although knowledge and ways of living may change, people do not. The book blurb says, "...a nineteen year old alchemist named Johann Frederick Bottger, who boastful claims of gold-making caught the attention of the greedy king. Imprisoned...Bottger was commanded to find the arcanum [recipe: in this case, to make gold]or suffer deadly consequences. But salvation for the young alchemist would come in unexpected form...Bottger would stumble on the formula for another precious commodity-the beautifully precious translucent ceramic from China called porcelain." Keep in mind that what we now pay cents for they paid kingdoms for.
reviewed The Arcanum: The Extraordinary True Story on + 211 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I found the book interesting, but redundant in places. The story of the intriegue and subterfuge involved in making porcelain was something I had never known in such depth; now I understand why it is so prized and collectable.
It's a pretty quick read and at the end, you will know more than you ever thought there was to know about the porcelain wars.
reviewed The Arcanum: The Extraordinary True Story on + 40 more book reviews
at the dawn of the Age of Reason, some of the finest minds in the 18th century Europe were pursuing the alchemist's dream; to discover the secret formula for transforming base metal into gold.
reviewed The Arcanum: The Extraordinary True Story on + 64 more book reviews
This non-fiction book is far more interesting than its title may suggest. It's about the history of alchemy.