From the early days of the Roman Empire through to the early 1700s, why did some of the most creative minds turn to alchemy? The search for how to make gold through this experimental practice will have been, without doubt, very alluring. But what else did people hope to discover? This is the story of the people, the books, the controversies and the dangers surrounding the secretive art of alchemy and the search for truth explored through the history of ideas, philosophy and religion.

What emerges is a surprising story about the many inter-weaving influences, heresies and orthodoxies that shaped Western Philosophy and Science.