Friday, July 01, 2011

Amazon Publishing to Authors: 'Review' Our Books And We Will Promote You



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Thursday, June 30, 2011

THE CHESS ARTIST by J. C. Hallman

The Chess Artist

One of my favorite books on the subculture of chess players, THE CHESS ARTIST is a psychological travelogue about spending time on the road with a chess master. The book is a journey of discovery into the obsessions, passions and - at times, negative impact - chess can have on an individual's life.

Part insider, part outsider, like Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, J.C. Hallman is able to explore an adventurous but sometimes darker side to 'the chess life' as he follows chess master Glenn Umstead first around the U.S. as he enters various tournaments, and eventually to the small impoverished Russian province of Kalmykia (ruled over by its president-dictator Kirsan Ilyumzhinov).


By having this double vision, this book both encapsulates and surpasses the ambitious world of chess into more universal expressions of what it means to devote your life to a single focused pursuit, to travel as an expression of identity, to win or lose and what they mean, and most of all, to develop friendships that are complex, challenging and rewarding all at once. THE CHESS ARTIST is a must for chess fans and readers interested in human psychology. 


Click here to buy THE CHESS ARTIST on Amazon.
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PAUL MORPHY AND THE EVOLUTION OF CHESS THEORY by Macon Shibut


Paul Morphy and the Evolution of Chess Theory

Two-time Virginia chess champion Macon Shibut's PAUL MORPHY AND THE EVOLUTION OF CHESS THEORY is a great introduction to both Morphy's life and chess games. Paul Morphy was undoubtedly the greatest player of the 19th century, but his reign as a fast and highly developed positional player was brief, his flame burned brightly and short, yet the games remain!

A book for the student as much as the casual admirer, here are more than four hundred of Morphy's best games. PAUL MORPHY AND THE EVOLUTION OF CHESS THEORY includes all the young champion's serious tournament games and 'special games' such as simultaneous and blindfold play. Morphy's games were full of risks and clarity, making them great examples of science and art combined - attacking play but with a purposeful exactitude. Mr. Shibut's book is a testament that Morphy has been forgotten by history, and yet the wonder of his chess games survive. Here is a revelation to any student of Morphy or examiner of chess history and the personality behind the board.

Click here to buy PAUL MORPHY AND THE EVOLUTION OF CHESS THEORY on Amazon.
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