Träume aus Feuer – Florian Illies und der Alchemist von der Pfaueninsel

In the organizer's words:

In his new book, bestselling author Florian Illies opens another chapter of the past: in Dreams of Fire, he focuses on the pre-scientific art of alchemy, whose ultimate goal was to refine the elements into gold. At the center of his novel, which is based on historical facts, is the alchemist Johannes Kunckel, to whom the Elector of Brandenburg gives the Pfaueninsel between Potsdam and Berlin for his work. Kunckel experiments in secret in his workshop there. His furnace did not produce gold, but a ruby-red glass that quickly became one of the most sought-after luxury goods in Europe. Kunckel takes the step from pre-Enlightenment magic to early natural science, to chemistry - and makes history in the process. "Illies is really good at turning history into adventure stories" (DLF KULTUR). Mod.: Claudia Dichter