The Age of Alchemy: How Early Innovators Shaped Modern Chemistry

by Kit Chapman

Reach through time and across continents to see the history of chemistry as it's never been told

'Glittering' PHILIP BALL
'Superb' TIM MINSHALL

The first chemists were Sri Lankan forgers who crafted unimaginably strong steel millennia before it should have been possible. They were alchemists in Roman Egypt, who designed apparatus still in use today. They were Stone Age leatherworkers, Tang Dynasty herbalists and Mayan stoneworkers.

The Enlightenment is usually credited with the origins of chemistry, but in truth, the science blossomed gradually. As early innovators distilled, smelted, forged and fermented their way through the centuries, they blurred science and mysticism in search of answers to life's greatest mysteries.

Join Kit Chapman on a global quest to achieve immortality, cure all disease and transmute lead into gold as he reveals the illuminating stories of how the alchemists first broke new ground and shaped the scientific method.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Science, Chemistry

320 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Dr Kit Chapman is an award-winning science journalist. Formerly an editor for Chemistry World, Kit’s byline can be seen in Nature, New Scientist, The Daily Telegraph, Chemist+Druggist and BBC Science Focus among others.

Kit appears regularly on radio, TV and podcasts, and has given talks to thousands of students around the world on science, writing and history.

Born in the UK, Kit holds a masters degree in pharmacy from the University of Bradford and a PhD in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Sunderland.

Reviews

[Ollie Bestall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

[Julian Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging and entrancing history of chemistry - with, of course, the added allure of dream of turning base metals into gold.

Well researched and engagingly written I was hooked from start to finish.

An immersive experience and enjoyable read.

[Isaac Inyang · Rating 4 out of 5]

modern chemistry came from early innovators, if you are curious about knowing, read this book

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Interesting.

[Flo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, so many random facts

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning all about this history. I learned a lot about chemistry and enjoyed it overall