By now, many readers have probably read The Da Vinci Code, a work of fiction, as well as many of the associated non-fiction works providing the premise for the novel.

Among these are some of the non-canonical Gospels, anything involving the ‘Merovingian’ lineage, Rosicrucianism, Knights Templar, Freemasonry, the Order of the Golden Dawn, the Cathars – you name it!

In New Dawn magazine there have been a number of books recently reviewed, notably The Mysteries of the Great Cross of Hendaye, and the accompanying DVD by Jay Weidner and Vincent Bridges.

The common thread in all these fascinating works is the alchemical revival that occurred in Europe from the mid-nineteenth century to the present.

The name Fulcanelli occurs everywhere modern alchemy is mentioned. Books and papers have been published under that name. Many of them discussed the encryption of hermetic information in the great gothic cathedrals, houses and monuments.

This current work is a “who’s who” of the alchemical scene in Europe during the last 150 years.

Author Dubois has painstakingly researched all information and knowledge that is available in an attempt to reveal the actual identity of the mysterious Fulcanelli. All the main players in the alchemical revival are represented here.

Author Dubois is a member of the ARK’ALL Foundation, which is devoted to the study of operative alchemy, and has written several books in French on alchemical and hermetic studies.

The notion of operative alchemy needs to be understood. It is the nitty-gritty of true alchemical transmutation. It is definitely not the psychological transformation of Jungian psychology or the personal growth that has been called alchemy in recent years. There is no doubt that Carl Jung and others such as Robert A. Johnson were highly attracted to, and fascinated by traditional alchemy, but the foreword of this book by Roger Gallois, ‘A Simple Child of the Science’, dismisses their message as erroneous to the ‘real work’ of alchemy.

The material in this book is arranged chronologically. In Part 1, Dubois addresses the history of the hidden ‘Science of Alchemy’ and the ‘Chain of Hermes’.

In the early 19th century the quickening of interest in the hidden arts and sciences began in earnest and the major characters are named and their contributions recorded. It is a fascinating window into the late 19th and early 20th century social changes and the counteraction to the scientific method.

At this time the Theosophical Society in the United Kingdom and the United States was exerting a strong reaction to mainstream Christianity.

Anthroposophy and Rosicrucianism in Germany were remarkably virulent as alternative spiritual paths. Freemasonry seemed to plod along solidly – already knowing what was to be known.

For the more daring and esoteric there was the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn – mainly active in the UK with Aleister Crowley and his gang. These organisations always seemed to attract the artistic, the mystic and the alienated.

The French group of hermeticists seem to have been of a more pragmatic mould with a higher sense of science and purpose.

Part 2 sees the emergence of the first documents that mention Fulcanelli in relation to the mysteries of alchemy.

We are introduced to the figures of Papus, René Guénon, René Schwaller de Lubicz, Pierre Dujois, Eugene Canseliet and Jean-Julien Champagne, through their letters, photographs and other rare documents.

No one has ever committed to paper whether or not Fulcanelli might have been a sole alchemist or a ‘committee.’

Author Dubois is a terrier on the hunt and leaves no rabbit hole unexplored. We have death certificates, wills, astrological birth charts, obituaries, letters, and even a street address directory with names for Marseilles.

All this primary information is, of course, in French. There is a welter of footnotes and photographs.

One thing is clear – all of these people and many more were in the loop of the hermetic advances in alchemy and the decoding of what had been hidden in the architecture of the gothic cathedrals, monuments and other buildings.

In Part 3 – strangely called 'Fulcanelli Unveiled', Dubois narrows the view to several people who may or may not have promulgated the myth (if it is a myth) of Fulcanelli.

Certainly the books and papers were published, and later in the 1950s re-issued with additions. After that things go quiet. Now nearly 30 years later, it is all bubbling up again. Alchemy is not going away.

If you are of a forensic bent and love to figure out puzzles, this book is ideal for you. It has a wealth of knowledge, with supporting notes and detailed bibliography that are full of references to many areas of further research.

As to Fulcanelli, well, I’m not sure. You will have to read the book and decide for yourself.
I would consider this a rather dry book, and it is definitely about the people, not alchemy itself. You will not learn how to turn base metal into gold here.

– Reviewed by Jennifer Hoskins in New Dawn No. 101