The Chemical Wedding by Christian Rosencreutz
A Romance in Eight Days

At this point in my life, I am too ignorant to say anything worthwhile about this book. I believe that reading this, and the commentary that follows it, has brought me some inspiration and insight. I don't know, however, if it would be of value to anyone else. If you choose to read The Chemical Weddi......more

Should've read it in German.......more

This is, by far, the oddest book I’ve read all year. Originally published 400+ years ago, the translator bills this as the first work of science fiction, because it’s a tangle of allegories on secret alchemist procedures. Every character is the representation of a substance/element and the trials an......more

Much has been made of the fact that Andreae wrote this book when young, as a 'prank' or literary 'hoax'. This may well be the case (although I suspect his admission was more inspired by a desire to protect himself during the turbulent days of counter-reformation warfare in Europe through which he li......more

One of the foundational texts of philosophical alchemy. I realize this is some deep and meaningful stuff. I appreciated reading it for the symbolism and images, which show up all across Western thought since then. But does the author have to brag about how humble he is...constantly? Gosh, golly, gee......more