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The Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
- GenresChess
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 2, 2020
A moving portrait written by an obsessed publicist/chauffeur/travel guide of Paul Morphy’s during his legendary European tour of 1858. The prose is rich with the excitement and fervor of genius on public display, painting 20 year old Morphy as the unrivaled savant-messiah of modern chess. The initial chapters weave the story of Morphy’s aristocratic New Orleans upbringing. By his teens he has beaten America’s number one player, Louis Paulson, in a highly publicized blindfold match. The New Orleans chess club promptly extends an open challenge to Howard Staunton (to play in Louisiana and determine who is world #1), Europe’s geriatric but oft heralded best player (retired from professional chess but the foremost author of chess theory). An aging scholar and vaguely insulted at the clamor of Morphy’s rise to fame, Staunton is acidic and evasive, even writing disparaging letters in chess magazines across Europe. It is here we begin to feel the tremors of Edge’s pen: an unforgivable injury has wounded the organ most dear to young Paul—his honor. With indomitable gallantry Morphy issues a public statement across the Atlantic: if Staunton is unable to visit Louisiana, so be it. I will come to you.
We follow Morphy across Western Europe as he demolishes all challengers—often blindfolded. We encounter vivid descriptions of chess cafes with great flair for characterization and setting—an endless procession of brilliant chess minds flood the pages, and we are even treated to a history of the rise of chess in American and European social life (every town in the western world worth its salt had a chess club by the mid 1800’s—games were played via lettered correspondence between towns). The publication itself is mired in controversy—some say Edge contributed to the mental demise of Morphy, flaming the fire of the Staunton affair in local newspapers, leading Morphy to abandon chess for the rest of his life —there was no honor, Morphy lamented, left in the exhibition of the game, nor upheld in the specious airs of its celebrated players. An unusual historical document written with strange, intense passion. Simply fascinating.
We follow Morphy across Western Europe as he demolishes all challengers—often blindfolded. We encounter vivid descriptions of chess cafes with great flair for characterization and setting—an endless procession of brilliant chess minds flood the pages, and we are even treated to a history of the rise of chess in American and European social life (every town in the western world worth its salt had a chess club by the mid 1800’s—games were played via lettered correspondence between towns). The publication itself is mired in controversy—some say Edge contributed to the mental demise of Morphy, flaming the fire of the Staunton affair in local newspapers, leading Morphy to abandon chess for the rest of his life —there was no honor, Morphy lamented, left in the exhibition of the game, nor upheld in the specious airs of its celebrated players. An unusual historical document written with strange, intense passion. Simply fascinating.
September 8, 2023
I had a lot of fun reading this, as someone who loves the game of chess and loves the history of chess even more, I found this little book of Paul Morphy’s travels in Europe to be an absolute delight to read.
November 23, 2021
I actually listened to this as an audio book, and it was great, transporting me back to a different world. The author is obviously a huge fan of Morphy, and hero worships him through the book, taking exception with those who came into conflict with Morphy, most notably, Staunton and Harrwitz.
It was a nice literary portrait of the chess scene in the 1850's.
It was a nice literary portrait of the chess scene in the 1850's.
April 17, 2020
I like very much how the author take the reader along the trip trough Europe, in a time when chess players gathered in the great chess cathedrals of the old days. Café de la Règençe in Paris, or the Divan in London.
January 17, 2019
As a chess enthusiast and sometimes advocate/coach I liked the account of Morphy's trip to Europe attempting to play a match against self proclaimed world champion Howard Staunton. While Staunton ducked Morphy, claiming to be too busy, Morphy went on to trounce many of the greatest chess players of the day. No thorough descriptions or annotations of the games, but rich in anecdotal observations of Morphy's activities and the attention his chess play garnered from both his challengers and the interested public.
Recommended for chess and history buffs.
Recommended for chess and history buffs.
February 25, 2019
Mucho chisme, pocas clsas con relevancia. Interesante saber sobre Murphy durante esos años, pero nada de lo que Wikipedia pueda darme.
August 17, 2023
Great book, I listened to the audiobook version on YouTube. I will leave the link below so that everyone can enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l97AY...
December 18, 2012
Great piece of nonfiction chess journalism. Paul Morphy was one of the top chess players of all time, certainly ahead of all his contemporaries. The high point of his career was his trip from America to Europe to represent his home country against the European masters - all who scoffed at the idea of any real challenge coming from the New World.
If you're looking for games, you should look elsewhere - there are no move sequences in the book. Instead, Edge documents the voyage as a journalist, complete with: a historical rundown of the important English chess clubs at the time, Morphy's impressive feats of skill (playing 8 players, blindfolded, at once), the famous Opera House game, battles against Lowenthal, Harrwitz and Andersen, plus a little background on Morphy's history in the U.S. scene before venturing overseas.
One of the interesting segments is the match that never was, between Morphy and major chess-publicist Howard Staunton. Morphy came to Europe specifically to square off against Staunton, but excuse after excuse prevented the exchange. Clips from newspaper editorials expose the bitter in-fighting of the chess community at the time. It almost reads like a modern-day celebrity vendetta, except in print instead of online.
Highly recommended, if you're looking for Chess non-fiction. I believe it may be somewhat biased (Staunton was, they say, a very polarizing character), the organization was awkward, and the singular focus on the trip to Europe is interesting but doesn't show a full portrait of Morphy's life. Still, I enjoyed the read.
If you're looking for games, you should look elsewhere - there are no move sequences in the book. Instead, Edge documents the voyage as a journalist, complete with: a historical rundown of the important English chess clubs at the time, Morphy's impressive feats of skill (playing 8 players, blindfolded, at once), the famous Opera House game, battles against Lowenthal, Harrwitz and Andersen, plus a little background on Morphy's history in the U.S. scene before venturing overseas.
One of the interesting segments is the match that never was, between Morphy and major chess-publicist Howard Staunton. Morphy came to Europe specifically to square off against Staunton, but excuse after excuse prevented the exchange. Clips from newspaper editorials expose the bitter in-fighting of the chess community at the time. It almost reads like a modern-day celebrity vendetta, except in print instead of online.
Highly recommended, if you're looking for Chess non-fiction. I believe it may be somewhat biased (Staunton was, they say, a very polarizing character), the organization was awkward, and the singular focus on the trip to Europe is interesting but doesn't show a full portrait of Morphy's life. Still, I enjoyed the read.
July 22, 2012
I liked this quite a bit and learned about what actually happened while Mophy was in Europe. It's a short book and there is very little detail about any of the games. I found it interesting to see the published letters about the Staunton affair. On the other hand it did get a little bit bored with hearing about what was essentially a dumb argument, but I could understand the desire to put a definitive version of their side of the story out there.
December 15, 2012
I just read this on my nook. It is pretty short book. It tells about his matches in Europe with some of the best chess players of the time. It is amazing to read about how good Morphy was at chess but I am not certain if some of it was embellished. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in chess and Paul Morphy.
February 11, 2014
good read (intended). the book helped to put morphy's european tour into perspective.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews