English Chess Forum

Hi all, some time back I created a thread about books on Soviet Chess, in which Yuri Averbakh's autobiography was recommended. I'm currently reading it and finding it very enjoyable, particularly players from the same era as Averbakh. Has anyone read Botvinnik's memoirs/autobiography?

Many thanks.

Over 1000 views and no comments, surely someone has read Botvinnik's?

Kasparov's book "Child of change" is a good read.

As long as you don't actually believe any of it

I enjoyed Pal Benko "My Life, Games and Compositions".

Thanks John, I'll look into that. Perhaps if enough people contribute we can establish a top ten chess autobiographies or something like that.

Matt Mackenzie wrote:As long as you don't actually believe any of it

There is a good line in that where Kasparov talks about himself in the third person and says something like “Nigel Short had all the makings of a world champion, but for the terrible misfortune of being brought into the world only 3 years after Kasparov!” While this may be true, there’s self-assurance, then there’s arrogance

Keith Arkell’s book is a good read, and believe it or not Keene’s “Tony Miles: England’s Chess gladiator” is half decent, though how comfortable Miles would have been about Keene writing it, is another matter.

Golombek and Hartston's (1976) book of CHO'D Alexander's Best Games was a very pleasing recent purchase.

Contains a nine page personal memoir from Milner-Barry, his lifelong friend and Bletchley colleague, four nice glossy b&w images, and a further 20-25 pages of biographic material spread between 70 annotated games.

It could possibly have been longer (167 pages in total) but nevertheless, an enjoyable read if you can get it at an affordable price.

John Moore wrote:I enjoyed Pal Benko "My Life, Games and Compositions".

I also enjoyed reading My Life, Games and Compositions by Pal Benko.

However the autobiography is very selective.

As Hans Ree pointed out in his review of this book.

Nowhere in the 650 pages does Benko mention his Companion of many years the eight times Brazilian Ladies Champion WIM Ruth Cardoso 09-02-1934 to 11-02-2000.

Ken Norman wrote:

John Moore wrote:I enjoyed Pal Benko "My Life, Games and Compositions".

I also enjoyed reading My Life, Games and Compositions by Pal Benko.

However the autobiography is very selective.

As Hans Ree pointed out in his review of this book.

Nowhere in the 650 pages does Benko mention his Companion of many years the eight times Brazilian Ladies Champion WIM Ruth Cardoso 09-02-1934 to 11-02-2000.

That led me to go look her up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Volgl_Cardoso

A 'biographical' book I enjoyed recently on chess was Moral Victories by David Lovejoy:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moral-Victories ... B0027P89DG

It is a part biographical and part-fictionalised account of the life of Savielly Tartakower. It was interesting at the end to read which bits had been 'filled in' by Lovejoy.