The Alchemyst

This is an okay book written by Michael Scott. The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly seven hundred years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty. The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects – the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world.

This is the first novel in the series. The author changed the name of The Book of Abramelin. That book was likely written around 1458 and is about an Egyptian mage. John Dee (1527-1608) is also a real person. Victor Hugo mentioned Flamel in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Flamel is also alluded to in J. K. Rowling's first Harry Potter book.