The Alkahest
1887
The Alkahest, written by Honoré de Balzac and first published in 1887, follows Balthazar Claes, whose obsession with alchemy leads him to neglect his family and responsibilities. As he pursues the quest for absolute knowledge, his marriage to Josephine deteriorates, highlighting the conflict between ambition and familial duty. This novel is notable for its exploration of philosophical anthropology and the consequences of obsession, reflecting Balzac's intricate character studies and social commentary.
Editions
X-Ray
“...the daylight subdued by four red walls with narrow white stripes adopted a pink glow which lent faces and every last detail a mysterious grace and a fantastical quality…Sunbeams fell across the house obliquely, wrapping around it like a scarf, cutting across the parlor, expiring in a peculiar sheen on the paneling along the walls that backed onto the courtyard, and enveloping [the] woman in the scarlet zone projected by the damask curtain draped along the window.””
— Honoré de Balzac
