Scan barcode
slferg's review
5.0
Interesting history of chess. Originally the game, as invented in India in the sixth century, had no queen. There was a vizier instead and also an elephant. The author traces the history of chess and the spread of the game through Europe and Asia to the rise of strong queens who ruled as co-rulers with kings and regents for their minor children. The queen was slowly added to the game, but her moves were extremely limited (the same as the vizier's). Eventually, she connects the increase of the queen's mobility and importance to the game to strong women rulers in Europe and Russia. The increase of the queen's movement was first made in Spain during the reign of Queen Isabella and was called queen's chess. At first, chess was a game that reached across all social levels and genders. It was extremely popular in most royal courts. And at one time, the church tried to discourage the game. It was also seen as a game of romance, with mixed gender matches often depicted in art and story. At one time, it was played with an option of using dice to determine the piece to be moved, although this was just a version of the game.
with_drea's review
5.0
A very entertaining read with some interesting insights! I definitely want to read up more on this topic now.
edalferro's review
3.0
This book explores the evolution of the queen in the game of chess. Pretty interesting, but best interspersed with a nice juicy fiction novel to switch to when the going gets slow.
dozens's review
2.0
This book alternately irked and entertained me. There were interesting stories about the evolution of some regional "dialects" of the game, and I enjoyed the recounting of some folk lore in the game was a vehicle for romance and seduction.
The times in which the author droned on about role of the actual living, breathing queen, though, bored me almost to tears. In fact, it seems at times that there is more information about queens and powerful ladies in this book than there is about the game.
But then again, and I didn't know this before starting to read, but this is by the author of A History Of The Wife and A History Of The Breast, so a bit of feminism is to be expected after all.
The times in which the author droned on about role of the actual living, breathing queen, though, bored me almost to tears. In fact, it seems at times that there is more information about queens and powerful ladies in this book than there is about the game.
But then again, and I didn't know this before starting to read, but this is by the author of A History Of The Wife and A History Of The Breast, so a bit of feminism is to be expected after all.
mommachristy2's review
3.0
I enjoyed this look into a feminine figure that has come to stand as a very powerful representation of women. I liked Yalom's writing style and look forward to finding more of her works to further read her views on women and their progression through history in different fields.I think this book will have me looking at the chess queen very differently as I play against men!
wanderer_33's review
3.0
Fascinating to read this history of chess and the chess queen. A bit dry and draggy in parts but still quite enjoyable.
esmithumland's review
informative
fast-paced
3.5
This was more of a history of medieval queens combined with the history of chess, but interesting nonetheles
guardyanangel's review
5.0
A very entertaining read with some interesting insights! I definitely want to read up more on this topic now.
More...