The Mortal Immortal

The Mortal Immortal is a short story first published in 1831. An old man looks back on his youth as an assistant to the alchemist Cornelius Agrippa, and tells how a mysterious elixir came into his hands. He lives through the centuries, watching time pass, while hoping to share his life with the woman he loves. The tale blends gothic fantasy with a quiet reflection on what a very long life might mean. It touches on love, loneliness and the limits of the wish to escape death.