Description
This masterful novella explores the psychological depths of obsession and intellectual rivalry through the lens of a chess match aboard an ocean liner. When a mysterious chess champion encounters a brilliant but unorthodox player, their intense competition becomes a battle of wills that transcends the game itself, revealing the darker complexities of human ambition and the fragile nature of the mind. Stefan Zweig's elegant prose captures the mounting tension and psychological warfare between the two opponents, transforming a simple game into a profound meditation on power, identity, and the price of genius. The narrative unfolds with the precision of a chess strategy, each move mirroring the characters' internal struggles and moral dilemmas. A haunting exploration of how intellectual pursuits can consume and ultimately destroy those who pursue them with singular devotion.
Available Editions
paperback
Penguin Books Ltd
Published Jan 1, 2006
57 pages
ISBN: 9780141023373
paperback
Penguin Classic
Published Aug 22, 2017
50 pages
ISBN: 9780241305164
paperback
Penguin Books, Limited
Published Jan 1, 2023
ISBN: 9780241630822
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Details
First Published
1942
Language
eng
Translation
Original: Schachnovelle
From: deu
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for Chess by Stefan Zweig.