Hartston William. The Kings of Chess: A History of Chess Traced Through the Lives of its Greatest Players

New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1985. — 192 p. — ISBN 0-06-015358-X.The history of chess comes alive in this fascinating compilation of minibiographies. Fifteen well-written chapters chronicle the evolution of the game through the lives and lifestyles of its greatest players, including Staunton, Morphy, Capablanca, Fisher, and Karpov (the current world champion). Most are shown to be arrogant, obstinate, and eccentric monomaniacs, but all are extremely provocative in their quests to be best. Selected games are included to illustrate many of the players' grandest achievements, but they are secondary to the captivating text and photographs. Hartston's book is an excellent complement to traditional chess histories.