Review by 谭光磊 [Gray Tan]
Grayhawk Agency,
7F-3, No.106, Sec.3, Hsin-Yi Rd., Taipei, 106, Taiwan, R.O.C.
886-2-27059231 (Tel) 886-2-27059610 (fax)
http://blog.roodo.com/grayhawk

法兰克福书展将至，我开始陆续收到国外客户寄来的书店和重点新书。几天前，我在英国 ILA（Intercontinental Literary Agency）的电子报上看到一本即将出版的小说，叫做《炼金术士之书》，作者是亚当‧威廉斯（Adam Williams），故事描述 1938 年西班牙内战期间，共和政府军绑架了品森教授（Pinzon）和他的孙子，把祖孙俩连同一群村民关进安达鲁西亚地区的圣詹姆士教堂。品森教授的专长是中世 纪研究，两人在教堂里找到一条地底密道，赫然发现教堂下埋藏着一座沉睡数百年的清真寺。

他们在寺庙遗迹里找到一本古书，系由九百年前的犹太人撒母耳（Samuel the Jew）所著，他身兼医者、哲人和炼金术士等身份，不仅写下了一生的故事，更详细描述中世纪西班牙基督徒、穆斯林和犹太人间的宗教冲突与爱恨情仇，以及动 荡年代中的情谊。这本「炼金术士之书」不仅是珍贵的历史文献，更预见了二十世纪意识型态纷争的世界，还埋藏了能让教授祖孙重获自由的关键秘密……

我一看故事简介就非常喜欢，觉得颇有《爷爷的微笑》的祖孙情谊加上《风之影》的神秘古书和西班牙内战故事，立刻向国外索取电子档。我上网查资料，发 现这是威廉斯的第四本小说，他之前出过三本大部头历史小说，皆以近代中国为背景，处女作《天乐院》（The Palace of Heavenly Pleasure）曾掀起英国出版界竞标大战，Hodder 最后击败 Macmillan 和 Transworld，以六位数英镑高价得标，《天乐院》售出十二国版权，轰动一时。[...]

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Captures the imagination from page one….the perfect book for curling up with at the weekend! SHE

Rewarding novel of love and friendship connecting worlds a thousand years apart! SUN

The parallels between past and present in the book, and again with reality, will touch the heart of any reader! STRAITS TIMES

Look in your local bookshop or click here to buy a copy.

The possibility of harmony between people of different backgrounds and beliefs is presented as a flickering ideal in this historical novel set in the 11th and 20th centuries. In 1938 a hostage held by a reckless revolutionary group discovers an ancient book written by Samuel, a medieval alchemist. Samuel’s erudite and idiosyncratic writing about friendship, creativity and war has an extraordinary relevance to the hostage’s situation. This carefully researched novel quickens in pace and interest as it proceeds. It also offers worthwhile insights into love and idealism in all periods of history.

Click here to order ‘The Book of the Alchemist’ from Amazon.co.uk

For further information please click here to visit the Chengdu Bookworm website.

The Book of the Alchemist – Adam Williams

14 March, 2010 – 7:30pm

After three successful novels set in China, novelist Adam Williams turns his attentions elsewhere for his latest book, a fabulous, intriguing story of redemption and courage in a war-torn Andalucia. The Book of the Alchemist has an Arabian Nights flavour that contrasts the enlightened tolerance of Arab Spain with the murderous bigotry of the 1930s.

Adam Williams is a businessman and novelist based in Beijing. His historical fiction trilogy, comprising The Pleasure of Heavenly Pleasure, The Emperor’s Bones, and The Dragon’s Tail follows the fortunes of three generations of an English family, spanning China’s last tumultuous last century from the Boxer Rebellion until the summer of 1989.

The Bookworm Chengdu – Yujie East Road 2-7#, Ren Min South Road 28#, Chengdu

30 RMB

AUTHOR TALK with Adam Williams – The Book of the Alchemist

Saturday, January 30, 4pm at The Glamour Bar, Shanghai

RMB 65, includes a drink

Adam Williams talks about his latest novel, The Book of the Alchemist, a story that links two ideologically torn worlds 1000 years apart, the Spanish Civil War and 11th Century Andaluz.

In a conversation with local Shanghai historian Paul French, Adam will talk about his book and explain the reasons why he has branched into medieval European history to create an epic novel that is full of excitement, colour, adventure and romance, and which at the same time explores dark themes that are relevant to the world today.

Joining them will be Russian businessman, historian and Orientalist, Maxim Moskalev, formerly of the Oriental Studies Institute of Moscow University, where he headed the Komsomol (Communist Youth League) until the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Join us for what promises to be a fascinating conversation about ideologies and fanaticism and how extremes of religious or political belief can shake the fabric of a tolerant society – in the past as indeed the present.

Order ‘The Book of the Alchemist’ from Amazon.co.uk

]]> http://www.adam-williams.net/2010/01/26/literary-event-this-weekend/feed/ 0 http://www.adam-williams.net/2010/01/19/watch-the-book-of-the-alchemist-promotion-video/ http://www.adam-williams.net/2010/01/19/watch-the-book-of-the-alchemist-promotion-video/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:41:20 +0000 Adam http://www.adam-williams.net/?p=565 Adam launches The Book of the Alchemist promotion video at Beijing Bookworm 19th January, 2010.

Watch below or click here.

Order ‘The Book of the Alchemist’ from Amazon.co.uk

Click here to listen LIVE at Talk Radio Europe.

After three successful novels set in China, local novelist Adam Williams turns his attentions elsewhere for his latest book, a fabulous, intriguing story of redemption and courage in a war-torn Andalucia. Don’t miss the very first China launch for his brand new book, featuring a Q&A with Stephen Bradley, diplomat, businessman and writer, who is currently working on a parallel history of the Roman and Han Empires.

For reservation details and further information please Click Here!

***

Adam will be speaking about  The Book of the Alchemist at M on the Bund in Shanghai on Saturday 30th January at 4.00pm.

In a conversation with local Shanghai historian Paul French, Adam will talk about his book and explain the reasons why he has branched into medieval European history to create an epic novel that is full of excitement, colour, adventure and romance, and which at the same time explores dark themes that are relevant to the world today.

Joining them will be Russian businessman, historian and Orientalist, Maxim Moskalev, formerly of the Oriental Studies Institute of Moscow University, where he headed the Komsomol (Communist Youth League) until the collapse of the Soviet Union.

For reservation details and further information please Click Here!

Order ‘The Book of the Alchemist’ from Amazon.co.uk

Click here to order ‘The Book of the Alchemist’ from Amazon.co.uk