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Ben Jonson
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The Alchemist Kindle Edition

by Ben Jonson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 278 ratings
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The greatest of English dramatists except Shakespeare, the first literary dictator and poet-laureate, a writer of verse, prose, satire, and criticism who most potently of all the men of his time affected the subsequent course of English letters: such was Ben Jonson, and as such his strong personality assumes an interest to us almost unparalleled, at least in his age.

Ben Jonson came of the stock that was centuries after to give to the world Thomas Carlyle; for Jonson's grandfather was of Annandale, over the Solway, whence he migrated to England. Jonson's father lost his estate under Queen Mary, "having been cast into prison and forfeited." He entered the church, but died a month before his illustrious son was born, leaving his widow and child in poverty. Jonson's birthplace was Westminster, and the time of his birth early in 1573. He was thus nearly ten years Shakespeare's junior, and less well off, if a trifle better born. But Jonson did not profit even by this slight advantage. His mother married beneath her, a wright or bricklayer, and Jonson was for a time apprenticed to the trade. As a youth he attracted the attention of the famous antiquary, William Camden, then usher at Westminster School, and there the poet laid the solid foundations of his classical learning. Jonson always held Camden in veneration, acknowledging that to him he owed,

"All that I am in arts, all that I know;"
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  1. Print length
    145 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    December 2, 2011
  5. File size
    383 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B006HBNGU2
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 2, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 383 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 145 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1511945559
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 278 ratings

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Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson

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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5
278 global ratings
Mass market paperback is illegible
1 Star
Mass market paperback is illegible
I ordered the mass market paperback version. I’m not sure if the book is any good, because the font is so small it can’t be read. About a fifth of the page is used for the text. Clearly a printing problem. Very disappointed
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Top reviews from the United States

Annerbelle
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2023
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One of the best books I’ve ever read… my teenage son felt the same way.
2 people found this helpful
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Israel Drazin
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best comedy plays
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2023
The Alchemist by Ben Johnson (1572-1637) is a comedy about two con artists, Face and Subtle. One claims to be an alchemist who promises people that he can turn everything they have into gold, and the other is his helper. It was first performed in 1610. It is about deception and gullibility and is considered Ben Jonson's best comedy. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called it one of literature’s three most perfect plots. Ben Johnson lived at the same time as Shakespeare. Some people think that Shakespeare overshadowed Johnson, who would have been better appreciated if he had not been compared to Shakespeare.
The play begins when a gentleman, Lovewit, leaves his London home because the city is afflicted with plague. He tells his servant, Face, to remain and care for his property. The play is not only very funny but also has lessons for people to learn, such as the following. The simple things in life are often the most extraordinary. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure. Obstacles in life are only obstacles, not blocks. Obstacles should prompt people to think and act. It is a mistake to believe that our lives are controlled by fate; we have control over our future. Living in the present is the most satisfying, rewarding way to live.
The only problem with the play is that it would be more comprehensible to most people in modern English. Shakespeare’s plays have been translated into modern English. Ben Johnson’s plays should have the same treatment.
4 people found this helpful
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Aaron
1.0 out of 5 stars Mass market paperback is illegible
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
I ordered the mass market paperback version. I’m not sure if the book is any good, because the font is so small it can’t be read. About a fifth of the page is used for the text. Clearly a printing problem. Very disappointed
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Aaron
1.0 out of 5 stars Mass market paperback is illegible
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2024
I ordered the mass market paperback version. I’m not sure if the book is any good, because the font is so small it can’t be read. About a fifth of the page is used for the text. Clearly a printing problem. Very disappointed
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Abo..Tgg
5.0 out of 5 stars The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 1999
The Alchemist By Paulo Coelh
2 people found this helpful
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Thomas Zarnek
4.0 out of 5 stars Nicely formatted, easy to read
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2019
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Nicely formatted, easy to read, but this e-book does require patience to lookup archaic word-meanings and historical & cultural allusions (no footnotes or annotations). Also, a (very) small part of the dialogue is in Spanish, but without English translations...not a big deal, just a minor inconvenience, for most readers, to Google the Spanish-to-English translations. I enjoy reading Shakespeare, and reading Ben Johnson's "The alchemist" was a similar pleasure--entertaining, funny, and a quick trip back in time that reaffirms that some things about people never change.
5 people found this helpful
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melinda
4.0 out of 5 stars Serviceable edition
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2016
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This is a review of the edition, not the play, which is wonderfully funny. The recent (summer 2016) RSC production was terrific! This edition is a school text which does not fully gloss the play but only some of the difficult words. Presumably a teacher in the classroom could discuss words and passages and so forth. But it served my purpose, which was to review the play before seeing the RSC performance I mentioned--it was thin enough to fit into my suitcase. I don't believe a fuller Arden edition is available, and who could carry around a full scholarly edition of Jonson's plays?
One person found this helpful
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dsonnel8
1.0 out of 5 stars free to good hands
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2021
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I was recommended a book named "The alchemist", however did not initially ask for the author so I bought this title by accident. In the first few lines of the book the line "I fart at thee" appears. While it was rather amusing and lead to some questions about the recommendations, I slowly made it to pages 14/15 where an exchange of rather creative, old fashioned name calling takes place. That was as far as I was willing to go and for the first time I closed a book with no intend to open it back up. This is written as a play, congratulations if you can stomach reading all the way through, however overall I would consider reading this book torture and a perfect way to punish literature students or misbehaving kids....
15 people found this helpful
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Allie Jacobs
1.0 out of 5 stars Wrong Book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2011
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This is NOT the famous scifi novel. My new roommate recommended this book so I read it to get to know her better. I kept reading because I was trying to be nice. But after 40 pages I quit and asked her how she could possibly be so boring. Turns out it's the wrong book. Worst 40 pages I've ever read. I know I was expecting a different book but I can't imagine how anyone would enjoy reading this. The book felt like one huge run-on sentence and never seemed to make a point.
9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Enrique Lopez
3.0 out of 5 stars Dos libros con el mismo título: The Alchemist: Ben Jonson, Paulo Coelho.
Reviewed in Mexico on November 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
Debo admitir que me equivoqué al comprar este libro, ya que en realidad deseaba adquirir la obra de Paulo Coelho. Luego compré este último libro que me pareció excelente.
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Bikas Sahoo
5.0 out of 5 stars The Book price is so cheap and it's the value of your money
Reviewed in India on January 24, 2022
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Just unspeakable in this range thank you Amazon for making this platform so easy to access.
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Bikas Sahoo
5.0 out of 5 stars The Book price is so cheap and it's the value of your money
Reviewed in India on January 24, 2022
Just unspeakable in this range thank you Amazon for making this platform so easy to access.
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Karen Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars Happy customer!
Reviewed in Canada on December 22, 2017
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Happy customer!
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Jessica
2.0 out of 5 stars Weak pages
Reviewed in Italy on April 18, 2014
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I got the right book, but the first time i opened it, the pages started to fall from it. Everytime i turn the page, this comes off. A real shame.
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Noo
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most powerful books i have ever read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2011
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My brother bought me this book years ago. It is an amazing read and everyone can find something that relates to them personally in this book. It is in the top 10 books to read and enjoy... which you will!
One person found this helpful
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