Reviews - Schachnovelle | The StoryGraph

3.69k reviews for:

Schachnovelle

Stefan Zweig

4.19 AVERAGE

freddie_f's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

alexduarte's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

shayleemarie's review against another edition

3.25

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

forgottensecret's review against another edition

4.0

'But before he did so, something new and unexpected happened. Czentovic looked up and studied our ranks; he obviously wanted to find out who was putting up such energetic resistance all of a sudden.'

An unnamed narrator, along with other members of an ocean liner, are losing to Czentovic. The famed chess grandmaster is pummelling them. In steps Dr B, an unknown of the chess world who manages to unsettle the great champion. Who is this man? What is his story? A novella with the whodunit pulse of a HBO mini-series, Chess Story is a captivating tale of how he accomplishes it.

As a warning, one who has read about the science of expertise must ignore the impossibility of Dr B's story. I couldn't help but imagine Anders Ericsson flinging this work across the room. But suspend those thoughts. Zweig will reward you for it.