Set in the early 1700's this is the story of Emilie - the alchemist's daughter of the title - who has been raised by her father in almost total isolation from the world. He has trained her in science and alchemy and is devoted to her, although he's always been a rather gruff and undemonstrative father. Since the day of her birth he has recorded her behaviour (her failures and triumphs) in his 'Emilie notebooks', and he believes that he has moulded her into a brilliant and super-rational scientist to carry on his legacy. ...
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Set in the early 1700's this is the story of Emilie - the alchemist's daughter of the title - who has been raised by her father in almost total isolation from the world. He has trained her in science and alchemy and is devoted to her, although he's always been a rather gruff and undemonstrative father. Since the day of her birth he has recorded her behaviour (her failures and triumphs) in his 'Emilie notebooks', and he believes that he has moulded her into a brilliant and super-rational scientist to carry on his legacy. However, he neglected to consider that she might be interested in more than just science and alchemy, and when a dashing young man pays a call to the house - ostensibly to ask for Emilie's father's scientific advice - Emilie's hormones take over, and it's not long before she is pregnant, married, and disowned by her heartbroken father. And that's when her adventure really begins. Like a Hardy or a Jane Austen heroine, Emilie is destined to makes a bad choice and painfully come to realise her mistake only after she loses nearly everything. There's also a dark secret in her past, a dramatic explosion, and a Mr Knightly / Gabriel Oak figure to help her put things right '
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Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages.
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Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. Damaged cover. The cover of is slightly damaged for instance a torn or bent corner.
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Very good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Very Good. Very Good Jacket. Size: 8x5x1; First Edition, first impression. Posted within 1 working day. 1st class tracked post to the UK, Airmail tracked worldwide. Robust recyclable packaging.
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Very good. Stains on pages and the side **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
It's possible that I did not know what to expect from this book, but I found it to be a bit of a slow start. The more I read of it, however, the more compelled I was by the situation in which the alchemist's daughter found herself. It was well written, and created vivid characters. A worthy book, well worth your while to read.
bookgeek
Apr 3, 2007
Enjoyable.
This is a novel, at it's heart, about disillusionment. Part cautionary tale to virgins, part love letter to Newton, and part romance, this is a unique novel. Young Emilie Selden works as a apprentice to her wealthy father, an alchemist. She spends every day with him, and becomes one of the most talented young scientists of her time. However, she is tragically naive about the rest of the world outside of her own home. She sleeps with the first man she falls in love with, marries him, and finds out that she won't be living happily ever after. The narrative of love, loss, and betrayal is universal. As Emilie learns more about life, and the secrets of her own past, she grows as a woman. Her mistakes are terrible, but she learns from all of them, and emerges as a strong, brilliant woman. The style and content of some of the scenes in the book reminded me of a Jane Austen novel. I really enjoyed all the scenes between Shales and Emilie, because McMahon doesn't feel the need to outline every single nuance in their behavior. This is a book for readers who love to read between the lines, and search for the sub-text during a dialogue. I felt like a few characters were very under developed. Emilie's lover, for instance, was transparent from the very first. The plot was a little predictable, but overall, it was a good read. If you enjoyed THE SCARLET LETTER, or anything by Jane Austen, you'll probably like this book, too.
