Mikhail Botvinnik - by Andy Soltis (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The games of Mikhail Botvinnik, world chess champion from 1948 to 1963, have been studied by players around the world for decades. But little has been written about Botvinnik himself. This book explores his unusual dual career--as a highly regarded scientist as well as the first truly professional chess player--as well as his complex relations with Soviet leaders, including Josef Stalin, his bitter rivalries, and his doomed effort to create the perfect chess-playing computer program.

The book has more than 85 games, 127 diagrams, twelve photographs, a chronology of his life and career, a bibliography, an index of openings, an index of opponents, and a general index.

Review Quotes

""an excellent job...recommended...meticulously researched...combines a multitude of Soviet and American sources to paint a rich and detailed picture of one of the game's most enigmatic and powerful players"-Chess Life

"a fascinating story...a brilliant account, the best book written on Botvinnik by far"-ChessBase; "A fascinating and readable biography of a very great chess player who was also a complex man of many contradictions."-The Judges of the English Chess Federation Book of the Year Award

"a really excellent read...an interesting and comprehensive account of Botvinnik's life...respect is etched on every page and considerable effort has obviously been made both at the editing and writing stages. Botvinnik himself would surely have nodded approval"-British Chess Magazine

"another Soltis tour-de-force...a fascinating book that is must reading for anyone wishing to learn more about this fascinating figure"-IM John Donaldson (JeremySilman.com)

"covers more background information on the person Botvinnik, that I ever have ever seen on print before!"-Chessbooks.nl

"illuminating"-ChessCafe

"recommended"-Kingpin Chess Magazine

"Grandmaster Andy Soltis exceeds all expectations in this epic life of chess' most enigmatic world champions. McFarland Publishers have set very high standards in the world of chess publishing with many of their titles winning prestigious book awards. With this new work on Botvinnik, McFarland has again raised the bar for excellence. Soltis presents a wonderful selection of games with stories behind their competitive significance. The games are well analyzed by Soltis. Soltis has written a modern day classic chess biography. Soltis' readable portrait of one the great players of all time, once picked up, is very hard to put back down"-The Birmingham News

"Soltis exceeds all expectations in this epic life of chess most enigmatic world champions. McFarland Publishers have set very high standards in the world of chess publishing with many of their titles winning prestigious book awards. With this new work on Botvinnik, McFarland has again raised the bar for excellence. Soltis has written a modern day classic chess biography. Soltis' readable portrait of one of the great players of all time, once picked up, is very hard to put back down"-al.com.

"Soltis has written another fine book. He makes you aware of Botvinnik's myriad achievements and gives you a good sense of his life and times"-Manchester Chess Federation

"Soltis tells a fascinating story...a brilliant account, the best book written on Botvinnik by far"-Huffington Post

"Soltis's best book so far"-Dale Brandreth, Caissa Editions

About the Author

Grandmaster Andrew Soltis, nine times champion of the Marshall Chess Club, New York Post editor and Chess Life columnist, is the author of dozens of chess books. He lives in New York City.