Knight/Guy: King, Queen, and Knight - A Chess Anthology in Prose and Verse (Antiquariat)

Autor: Knight, Norman; Guy, Will
Verlag / Hersteller: Batsford
Erscheinungsjahr: 1975
Sprache: Englisch
Seiten: 240

Chess Through the Eyes of Great Writers

King, Queen, and Knight brings together over 250 passages of prose and verse that explore chess as seen by acclaimed novelists, poets, and dramatists. Compiled by Norman Knight and Will Guy, this 1975 anthology shifts the focus from what chess masters have written to what literary masters have said about the game.

The collection spans fiction (Nabokov's The Defence, Ian Fleming's From Russia With Love, E.M. Forster's work), poetry, drama, and historical accounts. Readers encounter how chess has been linked to themes of love, war, religion, and human nature across different genres and periods.

Each passage includes explanatory notes on authors and context, with a foreword by the legendary C.H. O'D. Alexander and decorative elements by Sydney Greenwood.

Highlights

• Over 250 carefully selected passages spanning prose, verse, drama and historical writing
• Major works featured include Nabokov, Fleming, Forster, Tolstoy, Hardy and other literary figures
• Explores chess connections to love, conflict, religion and the human condition
• Annotated with author backgrounds and contextual notes for each passage
• Foreword by Hugh Alexander and original decorative illustrations throughout

A unique collection for readers who appreciate both literature and chess.

FAQ

What makes this different from other chess books?
Rather than presenting analysis by chess players, this anthology focuses on how major writers and poets have portrayed and interpreted chess in their work. It reveals chess through a literary lens, examining the game's cultural significance across fiction, drama, and verse.

Who compiled this anthology and what qualifies them?
Norman Knight and Will Guy compiled the collection after many years of research. The book includes a foreword by C.H. O'D. Alexander, the legendary British grandmaster and chess authority, lending expert perspective to the literary selection.

Does this book require chess knowledge to enjoy?
No. The anthology is designed for general readers interested in either chess or literature. The passages are selected for their literary merit and thematic interest, not for technical chess content, and each excerpt includes explanatory notes.