Secrets abound in this gripping tale of a young woman cloistered since birth who discovers that knowledge is no subsitute for experience when she choses to follow her heart over science.Raised by her father in near isolation in the English countryside, Emilie Selden is trained as a brilliant natural philosopher and alchemist. In the spring of 1725, during the English Age of Reason, father and … Reason, father and daughter embark upon their most daring alchemical experiment to date—attempting to breathe life into dead matter. But when Emilie—against her father’s wishes—experiences the passion of first love, she decides to listen to her heart over her head. Banished to London and plunged headlong into a society that is both glamorous and ruthless, Emilie discovers that for all her extraordinary education she has no insight into the workings of the human heart. When she tries to return to the world of books and study, she instead unravels a shocking secret that sets her on her true journey to enlightenment.
more
Katharine McMahon spins an intriguing tale of a young woman, sheltered and trained by her father in the natural sciences, who embarks on an education in the art of being human. When she falls for a handsome young visitor, she is sure that the attraction is alchemical, but she soon learns how little she knows of human nature and the world outside of her country home. While the novel does have overtones of historical romance, it seems to me more about Emilie’s search for identity and knowledge–life knowledge, not knowledge gained from books and the laboratory. The novel is well written and engaging, and McMahon includes fascinating details of life in the early 18th century.
The history was interesting but the main character was vapid.
A bit slow moving with an odd ending.
I’m sorry. It got boring. I couldn’t finish it.
Very creative story and fascinating characters. Extremely interesting back story about the scientific aspects of the plot.
Just couldn’t get into it. Made it through the first 6 chapters and couldn’t get hooked.
Slow start
The book has a unique plot, rich characters, and was told well.
Little too deep into alchemy for me…ended abruptly
A book with lots of plot twists!
A wonderful book about a girl presumably growing to maturity only to find her earlier sequestered life did not help her live in the outside world. However, her scientific training helps her become more worldly in the end. Characters are well developed and I always love reading about how women survived in historical times.
Not what I expected—psychologically complex, though a bit too romance-y in the early chapters. Historical context is good. I’d recommend it.