Nicolas Flamel: The Posthumous Legend

In his native French he was known as Nee-koh-lah, but you probably know him by the English form Nik-eh-lehs. He lived his life as a successful scribe, but after his death the world would know him as one of the most famous and successful alchemists ever. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the posthumous legend, Nicolas Flamel!

Monsieur Flamel was born in the 1330s. During his lifetime he ran two shops as a professional scribe. He was also a married man, having wedded his wife Perenelle in 1368. Monsieur Flamel lived into his 80s, designed his own tombstone in 1410, and died eight years later in 1418. He was buried in Paris at the Musée de Cluny.

If you'll notice, there was no mention of alchemy, immortality or magic involvement in the afore paragraph. There wasn't a single mention of the fable Philosopher's Stone or the Elixir of Life. There weren't even any notes about scientific fancy. How could that be? Well, it's because no evidence of such entanglement between the subjects and our good monsieur exists. In fact Monsieur Flamel's name was not linked to those subjects until the 17th century, 190 years after his death and burial. It all began with a book.

Paris, 1612. Livre des figures hiéroglyphiques is published and hits the shelves. Who is the book attributed to? Monsieur Flamel himself. Twelve years later, in 1624, Livre des figures hiéroglyphiques is translated into English and hits the London shelves as Exposition of the Hieroglyphical Figures. In the publisher's introduction Flamel's entanglement with alchemy is first discussed. The story, which focuses on Monsieur Flamel's search for the Philosopher's Stone, goes as follows: At some point in his life Monsieur Flamel purchased a strange, 21-page book. This book gradually becomes an obsession of sorts, and he dedicates much of his time to the decryption of it. In 1378 he even takes a trip to Spain, hoping to get some help with the translation. During his return journey, it is reported, Monsieur Flamel encounters a sagely stranger, who identifies the book as a copy of the Book of Abramelin the Mage before allowing Monsieur Flamel to continue on his way. After he arrives home Monsieur and Madame Flamel successfully decode enough of the book to reproduce the Elixir of Life and the Philosopher's Stone, which they then use to create silver and gold.

Not until 140 years after Exposition of the Hieroglyphical Figures' publication, in 1761, is the book's proposed history officially challenged as a myth by Étienne Villain. Villain puts forth the opinion that the source of Nicolas Flamel's alchemical fame is nothing more than the invention of the publisher. In response, other writers defend the book's claim, adding to and embellishing the legend of Nicolas Flamel by publishing accounts of sitings and encounters postdating Monsieur Flamel's death. As the years tick on, the life of a great scribe is overshadowed by the posthumous revelation of his "most secret" achievements. Today, we know of many books, poems, documents, comics, shows and songs that make note of his alchemical successes, whether taken as a serious point or a legendary one.

In truth there is no evidence one way or the other as to whether or not Nicolas Flamel really was involved in alchemy to any degree. Maybe a moment of curiosity opened the door to centuries of legendary gossip, or maybe he really was the great fabled alchemist he is claimed to be. Who knows? But no matter which side you take on the battle between fact and fiction, one thing is certain: Nicolas Flamel's legacy will continue to play into the fantasies of fiction for years to come.

Pictures used:
1 (Top-right) - Villain, Étienne François, from Histoire Critique de Nicolas Flamel, 1761.
2 (Bottom-Left) - GrandPré, Mary, illus. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. By J. K. Rowling. New York: Scholastic Press, 1999. Print.