**A fresh, engaging look at how 32 carved pieces on a Chess board
forever changed our understanding of war, art, science, and the human
brain.
**
Chess is the most enduring and universal game in history. Here,
bestselling author David Shenk chronicles its intriguing saga, from
ancient Persia to medieval Europe to the dens of Benjamin Franklin and
Norman Schwarzkopf. Along the way, he examines a single legendary game
that took place in London in 1851 between two masters of the time, and
relays his own attempts to become as skilled as his Polish ancestor
Samuel Rosenthal, a nineteenth-century champion. With its blend of
cultural history and Shenk's lively personal narrative, The Immortal
Game is a compelling guide for novices and aficionados alike.