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The Royal Game cover art

The Royal Game

By: Stefan Zweig
Narrated by: Dan Mellins-Cohen
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Summary

The fame of the The Royal Game is evident in the number of translations. The last work of the Austrian writer Stefan Zweig can be read today in over 60 languages. The first translation into English appeared in New York in 1944. In Germany, the book has become a constant bestseller. The first-person narrator learns of the presence of the world chess champion Mirko Czentovic on a boat trip from New York to Buenos Aires. Together with his acquaintance Mc Connor and other chess players, the first-person narrator manages to challenge the world champion to a game of chess.

As expected, Mc Connor and the others clearly lose the first game. In the second game, the only way they can get is with the help of a strange man who later turns himself into Dr. B imagines preventing an embarrassing defeat at the last moment and getting a draw. Fascinated by the talent of Dr. B's, the first-person narrator asks him to take on Czentovic. Dr. B. agrees. During the conversation, Dr. B. under what tragic circumstances he started playing chess.

©2020 Aureon Verlag GmbH (P)2020 Aureon Verlag GmbH

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Stilted reading but good story

An interesting story, with some vivid situations, and although I found the reading rather stilted, with emphasis evenly and awkwardly on every word, it didn’t really affect my enjoyment of the story.

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Excellent!

Love this book. What a delightful surprise. A splendid story, so well written. I recommend it.

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2 people found this helpful