Diana Fernando admits in her introduction to possessing "a satirical edge to [her] nature", and this, together with with a British classical education and sense of humour, may have led to another reviewer's annoyance [as expressed at Amazon.com, date of 29 March 1999].

This is a useful supplement and introduction to other alchemical works, written in contemporary language and delightfully illustrated, with over 500 entries about alchemical processes, people, writings, concepts and history. The book has 192 pages, including 2 pages of a select bibliography, and includes over 160 illustrations.

In her introduction to the book, Fernando states "my subject demands a sense of humour... Such pedantry as weighs down the saturnine allegories of alchemy, such yearnings for elixirs,such potterings with semen and dung, such anxiety for secrecy and such gibberish resultant therefrom - all these call for a touch of love, of airy levity." Diana Fernando has certainly achieved that with her book, and enlivened what might otherwise be an over-serious subject long consigned to the dustbin of scientific prehistory.

A good basic introduction to the concepts and history of alchemy. This is a history book rather than a 'how to' guide. ( )

This is a useful, if a bit inadequate, reference work. The line illustrations are quaint and neat. The definitions are superficial, much more information can be found on Wikipedia for more well-known entries, like "Isaac Newton," but for "salts" or some such thing, you can find much less useful references. ( )