A World of Chess: Its Development and Variations through Centuries and Civilizations

A comprehensive and thoroughly fascinating volume on the subject of chess. The authors have covered all the various forms of chess found all over the World. However, for readers wanting more information on standard chess and the history of the game - you will not find much information in this work. That is not its focus. A World of Chess is definitely worth adding to your bookshelf.... You'll never believe just how much information on the different kinds of chess you could collect in one volume!

Good book on the history of chess. Wish that there was a bit more explanation on how chess changed from place to place like why the Chinese version uses elephants and why the western one phased it out. Some type of timeline that shows the history of chess flowing from place to place would be nice (graphical map) and some discussion on the game tree complexity (how difficult one chess version is) would have been nice with Shogi being the most difficult, then Jiangqi, Xiangqi, and then western chess (and some variants in between or last).

EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN >> JUST OUTSTANDING!!!This volume about Chess will rival, and possibly replace, H.J.R. Murray's 1913 classic! The research is extensive and flawless, illustrations make all informational content perfectly clear, and the writing style draws your attention as if in an enjoyable conversation with the authors. This is an ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE for every Chess enthusiast or Chess-history-buff, BUY IT FOR YOURSELF or give as a gift - - No Chess Library should be without this book!!! Get a copy as soon as you can to complete or begin your Chess book collection . . . a Full**TEN**STAR**Highest**Recommendation**!!!

For anybody who is interested in chess and its variants and also in history and culture, this is a masterpiece. This book expands our points of view about the game, by allowing us to understand more about its origins, transformations and adaptations through different geographycal and cultural contexts, and also along time. All information presented is very detailed, including instructions on how to play all the variants. This book makes it very clear to any reader that chess is not "just a game", but a meaningful activity deeply rooted in all human socities, from many many centuries ago.

This book is an excellent review of the historical development of chess, from the earliest Chaturanga/Shatranj to current International Chess, covering regional and historical variants including Shogi (and Japanese variants), XiangQi (and Chinese variants), eastern variants such as Shatar (Mongolia), Catur (Malay peninsula and archipelago), Sit-Tu-Yin (Burma), Makruk (thailand), Chaturaji (and Indian variants), and western variants such as Courier Chess (and European variants) and more.The authors go on and review modern variants (knighted pieces, fairy pieces, unique boards and diverse rules). The book concludes with an enticing investigation on leads concerning the origins of chess.This work is extremely well-written. Chess experts will find sufficient depth to learn the unique features of the many forms of chess, and beginners/enthusiasts will find the rules, diagrams and maps clear and concise enough to enable them to play chess (chesses?) within minutes.For a fun, informative review of past, present and future versions of chess, for an overview of how this game evolved through time and cultures, this book is a must!

Not for the beginner. This is a very detailed look at chess and its variants for the serious student. Very detailed diagrams with many illustrations. Analysis by regions and variants a very valuable reference toll with very complete bibliography, Highly recommended for anyone with a deep interest in the game.

It has it all--depth, breadth, and clear diagrams. In fact, it's the diagrams that make the book special, as they show that the targeted readers aren't just scholars of cultural history but collectors and players as well. Cazaux and Knowlton invite the scholars to play and collect (or reward them for already doing so), and that is somewhat strange but also wonderful for a book as encompassing as this one. Who would even have the time? But perhaps a chapter or separate monograph on collecting would not be amiss?I was particularly delighted to find substantial sections on some of my favorite variants: doushogi, luzhanqi, tori shogi, rithmomachy, gala, fairy chess, and 960. The final chapter, however--on the origins of the game--did not at all "go the way I had planned," and I can only hope to live long enough to see the three candidate cultures narrowed down to a more manageable one or two.Many thanks to the authors for delivering us a book that should have been on the shelves long ago.

A wonderful overview of chess and its variants with their history and rules. Also includes comprehensive notes. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the history of this game and its many manifestations. A video is available at aworldofchess.com.

Terrific book, has more information on chess varieties and rules than you'd ever find anywhere else. Great detailed diagrams.

洋の東西を問わず、100種類以上もの将棋系ゲームの内容を紹介するだけでなく、歴史的・文化的側面にまで踏み込んだ名著。日本の将棋に関しても「第４章　日出ずる国の将軍と傭兵」で、50ページ以上を割いて、その特性だけでなく歴史、バリエーションまで紹介している。将棋ブームの今、将棋（文化）史にも注目が集まり、こうした本が日本語でも出ればと願う。