000			02211cam a22003253u 4500
001			1453
003			UtSlPG
005			20260610133045.0
006			m
007			cr n
008			260607r2004||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d
040			_aUtSlPG
041		7	_aen _2iso639-1
050		4	_aPQ
100	1		_aBalzac, Honoré de, _d1799-1850
245	1	4	_aThe Alkahest
264		1	_aSalt Lake City, UT : _bProject Gutenberg, _c2004
300			_a1 online resource : _bmultiple file formats
336			_atext _btxt _2rdacontent
337			_acomputer _bc _2rdamedia
338			_aonline resource _bcr _2rdacarrier
500			_aRelease date is 2004-06-01
508			_aProduced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger
520			_a"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.)
534			_nOriginal publication data not identified
653			_aPhilosophical anthropology -- Fiction
653			_aFrench fiction -- Translations into English
700	1		_aWormeley, Katharine Prescott, _d1830-1908
856	4	0	_uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1453
999			_c43569 _d43569