02211cam a22003253u 4500 1453 UtSlPG 20260610133045.0 m cr n 260607r2004||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PQ Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850 The Alkahest Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2004 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2004-06-01 Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger "The Alkahest" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel written in the early 19th century. The story delves into themes of obsession, the pursuit of knowledge, and the impact of one's ambitions on family life, centered around the lives of Balthazar Claes and his wife, Josephine. It explores Claes' relentless quest for the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical substance said to turn base metals into gold, which consumes him and gradually creates strife within his household. At the start of the narrative, the reader is introduced to the House of Claes in Douai, a residence infused with rich Flemish history. The opening elaborates on the architectural significance of the house and the Claes family's esteemed past, weaving in a poignant portrait of their lives. As Balthazar becomes increasingly absorbed in his scientific endeavors, neglecting his family and responsibilities, his wife Josephine grapples with feelings of despair and concern for her children’s future. Their once-happy marriage begins to fray as Balthazar's obsession leads them down a path of potential ruin, establishing a dichotomy between ambition and familial duty that pervades the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Philosophical anthropology -- Fiction French fiction -- Translations into English Wormeley, Katharine Prescott, 1830-1908 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1453 43569 43569