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A Chess Story

by Alexander Starritt, Stefan Zweig
A Chess Story - Thryft
A Chess Story - Thryft

Chess and madness intertwine on tumultuous seas.

You might not be a grandmaster in chess, but "A Chess Story" isn't just about the game; it's about the intense psychological battle and the human mind under pressure. Stephan Zweig weaves delirious obsession and haunting history into a compact novella that you'll ponder over long after the last move is made. It's a dance of intellect and emotion that's choreographed masterfully, making it a compelling read for anyone fascinated by the depths of the mind and the shadows of the past.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

A Chess Story

by Alexander Starritt, Stefan Zweig
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9781782270119
Authors: Alexander Starritt, Stefan Zweig
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Date of Publication: 2013-11-07
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Historical Fiction
Goodreads rating: 4.27
(rated by 122593 readers)

Description

An epic chess match on a transatlantic liner unearths a story of persecution and obsession. One of the most perfectly gripping novellas from a master of the form, Stefan Zweig.Chess world champion Mirko Czentovic is travelling on an ocean liner to Buenos Aires. Dull-witted in all but chess, he entertains himself on board by allowing others to challenge him in the game, before beating each of them and taking their money. But there is another passenger with a passion for chess: Dr B, previously driven to insanity during Nazi imprisonment by the chess games in his imagination. But in agreeing to take on Czentovic, what price will Dr B ultimately pay?A moving portrait of one man's madness, A Chess Story is a searing examination of the power of the mind and the evil it can do."The rediscovery of this extraordinary writer could well be on a par with last year's refinding of the long-lost Stoner, by John Williams, and which similarly could pluck his name out of a dusty obscurity." - Simon Winchester, Telegraph"Perhaps the best chess story ever written, perhaps the best about any game. Never mind that you may have never moved a pawn to King four; the story will grip you." - Economist"His great achievement in short form" - The TimesA staunch pacifist after his time in the Ministry of War during the First World War, Stefan Zweig was, at his peak, one of the bestselling and most widely acclaimed authors in the world. Following Hitler's rise to power, he and his second wife fled Austria; first to England, then to America, and finally, in 1940, they travelled together to Brazil, where the couple took an overdose and died. Much of his work is available from Pushkin Press.
 

Chess and madness intertwine on tumultuous seas.

You might not be a grandmaster in chess, but "A Chess Story" isn't just about the game; it's about the intense psychological battle and the human mind under pressure. Stephan Zweig weaves delirious obsession and haunting history into a compact novella that you'll ponder over long after the last move is made. It's a dance of intellect and emotion that's choreographed masterfully, making it a compelling read for anyone fascinated by the depths of the mind and the shadows of the past.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.