1961 The Chess Players by F.P. Keyes 1st Edition Vintage Historical Fiction Book
The Chess Players
By Frances Parkinson Keyes
Published by Eyre & Spotiswoode Publishers Ltd: London 1961 First British Edition
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The Chess Players, by Frances Parkinson Keyes, was published by Eyre & Spottiswoode Publishers Ltd in London in 1961 as the first British edition. Set in nineteenth-century New Orleans, this richly layered historical novel intertwines politics, art, and personal ambition in the life of Paul Morphy—the real-life chess prodigy who became one of the greatest players the world has ever known. Keyes brings to life the elegant yet turbulent world of antebellum Louisiana, tracing Morphy's rise to international fame, his encounters with European society, and his eventual retreat from the world that once celebrated him.
Through her characteristic blend of meticulous historical research and emotional depth, Keyes explores the tensions between genius and normalcy, pride and vulnerability, and the personal cost of brilliance. Her portrait of Morphy is both admiring and tragic, depicting a man caught between the rigid expectations of Southern society and the consuming intensity of his own intellect.
Written in Keyes's polished, evocative prose, The Chess Players is a sweeping biographical novel that captures the elegance and melancholy of a bygone era. It would appeal to readers of historical fiction, admirers of biographical novels about gifted yet conflicted figures, and collectors of mid-twentieth-century literary works on art, intellect, and destiny."
General wear and chipping with small tape repairs to dustjacket. Book is a very clean copy with no inscriptions and in very good condition overall. Please study photos to understand condition. Happy to provide more photos on request.
Size 20.5cm x 14cm x 3cm
