The Alchemist

By: Ben Johnson
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • An outbreak of plague in London forces a gentleman, Lovewit, to flee temporarily to the country, leaving his house under the sole charge of his butler, Jeremy. Jeremy uses the opportunity given to him to use the house as the headquarters for fraudulent acts. He transforms himself into 'Captain Face', and enlists the aid of Subtle, a fellow conman and Dol Common, a prostitute. In The Alchemist, Jonson unashamedly satirizes the follies, vanities and vices of mankind, most notably greed-induced credulity. People of all social classes are subject to Jonson's ruthless, satirical wit. He mocks human weakness and gullibility to advertising and to "miracle cures" with the character of Sir Epicure Mammon, who dreams of drinking the elixir of youth and enjoying fantastic sexual conquests. The Alchemist focuses on what happens when one human being seeks advantage over another. In a big city like London, this process of advantage-seeking is rife. The trio of con-artists - Subtle, Face and Dol - are self-deluding small-timers, ultimately undone by the same human weaknesses they exploit in their victims.View our full collection of podcasts at our website: https://www.solgoodmedia.com or YouTube channel: https://www.solgood.org/subscribe Check out our ad free subscription: http://www.adfreesounds.com for our Premium, 10 Hour SoundsThe best audiobooks - Our collection includes memoirs, fiction, non fiction, and more!www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/audiobooksFairy Tales, Short Stories and More! Listen to a bedtime story tonight!www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/childrens-storiesWanna Listen to Something Funny? Check out our Collection of Best Comedy Podcasts!www: https://www.solgood.org/subscribeolgoodmedia.com/categories/comedyThe best daily podcasts for your morning, afternoon or evening routine!www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/daily-podcastsExplore our Audio Drama Podcasts. You'll love our collection of immersive rich stories.www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/dramaThe top educational podcasts. Our collection includes Economics, History, Science, Religion and More!http://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/educationalThe Best Fantasy Podcasts that'll take you on an adventure during your next commutehttp://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/fantasyFrom Thrillers to Science Fiction, Here are some of the best Fiction Podcasts to Bingehttp://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/fictionTop Health & Fitness Podcasts to increase your Vitality, Wellness, and Longevityhttp://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/fictionThe Best History Podcasts That Will Help You Remember What You Forgot In Schoolhttp://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/historyThese Horror Podcasts Will Chill You to the Bone!http://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/horrorListen to the world's greatest minds on topics such as spirituality, history, science, and more!http://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/lecturesThe Best Mystery Podcasts to bend your mind and ask "Who did it?!?"http://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/mystery-and-suspenseShows that broaden your knowledge, our collection includes topics such as history, business, science, and more!http://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/non-fictionShows that broaden your knowledge, our collection includes topics such as history, business, science, and more!http://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/philosophy-and-religionTop Philosophy and Religion Podcasts, Our Favorites to have a Deeper Understanding of our Worldhttp://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/playsExperience Live Theatre From the Comfort of your Home! - Top Plays & Dramatic Reading Podcastshttp://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/romanceTop Romance Podcasts for Snugglinghttp://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/romanceTop Science Fiction Podcasts That are Out of This World!http://www.solgoodmedia.com/categories/science-fictionThe Best Self-Help Podcasts For Overall Wellness...
    public domain
    Show More Show Less
Art Entertainment & Performing Arts Literature & Fiction
Show More Show Less
Episodes
  • Act 5 - The Alchemist - Ben Johnson

    Act 5 - The Alchemist - Ben Johnson
    Nov 3 2022
    View our full collection of podcasts at our website: https://www.solgoodmedia.com
    or YouTube channel: https://www.solgood.org/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Act 4 - The Alchemist - Ben Johnson

    Act 4 - The Alchemist - Ben Johnson
    Nov 3 2022
    View our full collection of podcasts at our website: https://www.solgoodmedia.com
    or YouTube channel: https://www.solgood.org/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • Act 3 - The Alchemist - Ben Johnson

    Act 3 - The Alchemist - Ben Johnson
    Nov 3 2022
    View our full collection of podcasts at our website: https://www.solgoodmedia.com
    or YouTube channel: https://www.solgood.org/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins

What listeners say about The Alchemist

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Amazon Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User

made this tricky play easier to digest

Ben Johnson's 1610 play The alchemist is all new to.me, but reading it and listening to this performance was very helpful. the edition read was much in line with the Cambridge version I used to follow along with

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.