Part of La Comédie Humaine
First published 1997
Balthazar Claes encounters a mysterious stranger who opens his eyes to the ancient art of alchemy. This chance meeting transforms the wealthy Belgian merchant into a man consumed by scientific obsession. He begins conducting elaborate experiments in his laboratory, determined to unlock the secrets of matter itself. As Balthazar pours his energy and resources into his research, his wife Josephine watches helplessly as their family fortune disappears. His children suffer as their inheritance evaporates in failed chemical trials. Balthazar believes he stands on the verge of revolutionary discoveries that will advance human knowledge, yet each experiment brings his family closer to financial ruin. The novel explores the collision between scientific ambition and domestic responsibility, showing how one man's pursuit of ultimate truth destroys the people he loves most.
Genres: drama, classic-literature, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, alchemy, 19th-century
Vibes: introspective, melancholic, morally-complex, obsessive, thought-provoking, tragic
Tropes: family-sacrifice, moral-conflict, obsession-leads-to-downfall, tragic-protagonist
Setting: Belgium
Period: 19th century
226 pages · Paperback · Dedalus