Alchemy and hermetic. “Royal art” and “art of kings”. A mysterious science that linked magicians and adventurers, philosophers and warlocks in a strong chain. Alchemists were either accepted as equals or burned at the stake of the Holy Inquisition. Before you is the story of one from THE LAST ALCHEMISTS of Europe. The story of King Solomon's hunt for gold - the longed-for dream of the adherents of the "royal art", in which Newton and Leibniz, Waterhouse and Peter I took part. The story of secrets and adventures, miracles and mystical discoveries. The second book of the "Baroque cycle" - which revealed to the reader a new side of Neal Stephenson’s talent.