Vladislav Vančura: The Alchemist

From sunny Lombardy, the alchemist Alessandro del Morone arrives in Rudolphine Prague. In Prague, open to alchemists, real scientists and charlatans alike, he wants to prove what he predicted with his research - a solar eclipse. He gets a roof over his head with Count Martin Koryčan, who - together with his brother Michael - soon gets into financial difficulties and sees his only hope in Alessandro. As an alchemist, he must be able to transmute ordinary iron into gold? Alessandro, however, has only his scientific interest -and then, of course, his love interest; Single girls and married ladies are enchanted by the Italian young man, and even their innate virtue does not prevent them from making love.