I have long complained about the lack of good writing in chess circles. In fact, most of the chess rubbish that passes for prose reminds me of a Republican lecture on family values: rambling, boring, obvious, shallow and always (watch out! This is the part that really offends me!) politically correct.

Then a light appeared at the end of the tunnel: a raving Dutch lunatic named Donner had written for years about chess, its big names, its political machinations, the psychology of winning and losing, and so much more. When not writing he played (he was, after all, a grandmaster), and when not playing he engaged in strange pastimes like donating his prize money to the Viet Cong in 1968 (but only if they agreed to buy machine guns instead of medicine!).

Unfortunately, though Donner had won some of Holland's most prestigious literary awards, his work had never been translated into English. Now, after years of waiting, the American-friendly version has finally become available. Composed of articles that he wrote over a thirty-six year span, we see the late Donner expose himself in ways that would make Clinton click into denial mode. Opinions are tossed at us with reckless abandon, observations about our heroes force us into hasty reevaluations, and...well, let his own words give you a taste of his vituperative but always honest pen:

"I have studied Fraulein Jorger closely and attentively. In any aeroplane whatsoever, I would completely put myself in her hands, her piano playing is a delight, but chess...forget it, she is hopeless at it, just like any other woman."

"The torrent of rudeness, girlish sulking ('I'm not speaking with you any longer') and downright insults I have to put up with from youngsters who are as yet incapable of surpassing me on the chess board may have its psychological explanation, I still find the intensity of their aggression frightening at times. When Bohm avails himself of the publicity surrounding his excellent result in the recent IBM tournament to air his doubts about my sexual prowess and to brand me a malicious gossip, and then triumphantly declares that he has taken his 'revenge,' I don't quite see why, though I suspect it concerns problems that he'll have to thrash out for himself."

"After I resigned this game with perfect self-control and solemnly shook hands with my opponent in the best of Anglo-Saxon traditions, I rushed home, where I threw myself onto my bed, howling and screaming, and pulled the blankets over my face. For three days and three nights the Erinnyes were after me. Then I got up, dressed, kissed my wife and considered my situation."

As much as I enjoyed this book, a simple question must be asked: is it worth sixty-five bucks? It IS overpriced (we are not talking encyclopedia here; we're talking ordinary hardback book)! Even thirty dollars would be high, but I would swallow my pride and buy the thing. But this price tag is, honestly, over the top. It's a great pity that the publishers, in deciding on a limited edition (and the hefty price-tag that such things carry), have deprived so many readers of the opportunity to read Donner's words. I don't think that Donner would have been pleased.

"The King" is a wonderful book; when it comes out in paperback (or in a lower-priced hardcover edition) grab a copy as fast as you can!

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