Page 2 - Compound of Compounds

Hermetic Research Series Number 14

Albertus Magnus

Compound of compounds

Translated by Luc Villeneuve

The Dominican scholar Albertus Magnus (1193-1280) seems to have had a
considerable interest in alchemy and there are numerous alchemical writings
attributed to him. The better known of these are his Book of Minerals, the
Semita Recta (the straight or true way), the Alkimia minor and the short work,
the Compositum de compositis, translated here by Luc Villeneuve from a
French version of the text.

This book, written in the thirteenth or early fourteenth century and thus
one of the earliest works of European alchemy, is remarkably clear and
straightforward. It outlines the alchemical process, placing it within a theoretical
framework, then demonstrating how to carry out the work in practice, avoiding
allegory and obfuscation.

Whether this was written by Albertus Magnus or some other now unknown
writer, the book presents such an exciting and clear account of the nature of
alchemy, that one can see people, centuries later, poring over its pages trying to
tease out and work the process shown here in all its practical details. Even after
800 years it still speaks freshly and eloquently of the mystery of alchemy. It
deserves recognition as one of the key foundation works of European alchemy.
It is sad that it has taken so long to make it available in English.

Cover illustration is a woodcut of Albertus Magnus in his study, from Liber secretorum Alberti
Magni, 1502, coloured by Adam McLean

Adam McLean
15 Keir Street
Glasgow G41 2NP
UK
www.alchemywebsite.com/bookshop