The Alchemist
The Alchemist, first performed in 1610, is Ben Jonson's comedy of swindlers at work in plague-time London. While his master is out of town, the servant Face turns the house into a laboratory for the fake alchemist Subtle and their accomplice Dol Common, and a procession of fools arrives to be fleeced: the clerk Dapper who wants a gambling familiar, the tobacconist Drugger, the Puritan deacons Ananias and Tribulation Wholesome, and above all Sir Epicure Mammon, whose fantasies of the wealth and pleasures the philosopher's stone will bring are the play's richest poetry. The plot is built with clockwork tightness toward the master's unexpected return. Jonson's satire of greed and gullibility has lost none of its point. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first act is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Alchemist
The Alchemist by Ben Jonson can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Alchemist online?
Yes. The Alchemist opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Alchemist free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Alchemist is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Alchemist in the public domain?
Yes. The Alchemist by Ben Jonson is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Alchemist?
About 2 h 02 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Alchemist?
The Alchemist by Ben Jonson is filed under "Drama" in the Vinteuil library.
