
The Royal Game
A Chess Story
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Narrated by:
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Dan Mellins-Cohen
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By:
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Stefan Zweig
About this listen
The fame of the The Royal Game is evident in the number of translations. The last work of the Austrian writer Stefan Zweig can be read today in over 60 languages. The first translation into English appeared in New York in 1944. In Germany, the book has become a constant bestseller. The first-person narrator learns of the presence of the world chess champion Mirko Czentovic on a boat trip from New York to Buenos Aires. Together with his acquaintance Mc Connor and other chess players, the first-person narrator manages to challenge the world champion to a game of chess.
As expected, Mc Connor and the others clearly lose the first game. In the second game, the only way they can get is with the help of a strange man who later turns himself into Dr. B imagines preventing an embarrassing defeat at the last moment and getting a draw. Fascinated by the talent of Dr. B's, the first-person narrator asks him to take on Czentovic. Dr. B. agrees. During the conversation, Dr. B. under what tragic circumstances he started playing chess.
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Story
With the age of voyages of discovery in the 15th century, the curtain of history slowly came down on the late Middle Ages. Portuguese and Spanish seafarers set out to remeasure the dimensions of the earth. Numerous spices and fruits, which we would hardly be able to do without today, found their way to Europe for the first time. Columbus discovered America in 1492 on his quest for India. Six years later, it was left to Vasco da Gama to travel through the sea route to India sought by Columbus on the eastern route around Africa.
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Great book - odd narration
- By Anonymous User on 04-08-23
By: Stefan Zweig
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Endgame
- Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall—from America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness
- By: Frank Brady
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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From Frank Brady, who wrote one of the best-selling books on Bobby Fischer of all time and who was himself a friend of Fischer’s, comes an impressively researched biography that for the first time completely captures the remarkable arc of Bobby Fischer’s life. When Bobby Fischer passed away in January 2008, he left behind a confounding legacy. Everyone knew the basics of his life—he began as a brilliant youngster, then became the pride of American chess, then took a sharp turn, struggling with paranoia and mental illness. But nobody truly understood him.
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A Trajedy
- By Roy on 02-27-11
By: Frank Brady
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Nietzsche
- Fighting Demons
- By: Stefan Zweig, Vanessa Walsh - translator
- Narrated by: Tyler Boss
- Length: 3 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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A dazzling biographical study of the greatest German philosopher of the nineteenth century by one of the most widely read German-language authors of the twentieth century. In this vivid and eloquent biography, Zweig largely eschews the traditional academic discourse on the philosopher's work, instead concentrating entirely on Nietzsche as a person, his habits, his passions and his obsessions. Stefan Zweig describes the tragedy of Nietzsche's existence, his seclusion from the world, in self-imposed isolation, in a compelling and impressive way.
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Stunning
- By Hammad Khan on 07-02-23
By: Stefan Zweig, and others
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Bobby Fischer Goes to War
- How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match
- By: David Edmonds, John Eidinow
- Narrated by: Sam Tsoutsouvas
- Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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In the summer of 1972, with a presidential crisis stirring in the United States and the cold war at a pivotal point, two men, the Soviet world chess champion Boris Spassky and his American challenger Bobby Fischer, met in the most notorious chess match of all time. Their showdown in Reykjavik, Iceland, held the world spellbound for two months with reports of psychological warfare, ultimatums, political intrigue, cliffhangers, and farce to rival a Marx Brothers film.
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Engrossing
- By Gene on 02-09-05
By: David Edmonds, and others
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The Burning Secret
- By: Stefan Zweig
- Narrated by: Daniel Allen
- Length: 2 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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"The Burning Secret" by Stefan Zweig is a captivating novella that delves into the complexities of human emotions and relationships. Set against the backdrop of an Austrian resort in the early 20th century, the story revolves around a young baron who, in his pursuit of an intriguing woman, unwittingly befriends her young son. This friendship becomes a strategic tool in his quest, leading to an intricate web of deceit, passion, and emotional turmoil.
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Heartwarming story, love it!
- By Herbalm8den on 01-06-25
By: Stefan Zweig
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The Short Stories, Volume I
- By: Ernest Hemingway
- Narrated by: Stacy Keach
- Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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This definitive audio collection, read by Stacy Keach, traces the development and maturation of Hemingway's distinct and revolutionary storytelling style - from the plain bald language of his first story to his mastery of seamless prose that contained a spare, eloquent pathos, as well as a sense of expansive solitude. These stories showcase the singular talent of a master, the most important American writer of the 20th century.
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Papa wouldn't have like this recording.
- By Jerry`` on 03-16-04
By: Ernest Hemingway
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Move by Move
- Life Lessons on and off the Chessboard
- By: Maurice Ashley
- Narrated by: Jeremy (Midnite) Michael Durm
- Length: 2 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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At age thirty-three, Maurice Ashley became the first African American to attain the rank of International Grand Master of Chess. Since that historic moment, he has brought his love of the game to a wide audience as an educator, innovator, and motivational speaker.
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Calculated, precise, inspirational, and beautifully written. My favorite book of the year without a doubt.
- By Jenna on 08-15-24
By: Maurice Ashley
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Chess Opening Names
- The Fascinating & Entertaining History Behind the First Few Moves
- By: Nathan Rose
- Narrated by: Nathan Rose
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Impress your friends with superior opening knowledge without the tedious study. Knowing the history of chess will prove your cleverness even more effectively than winning over the board. Once you have listened to this audiobook, you can explain the origins of the names to your opponent, and even if you lose the game, your opponent will still be impressed. Enjoy this capitvating romp through the names of the first few moves in this enjoyable addition to any chess player's library. Prepare to be surprised, amazed, amused and informed.
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Average story telling
- By AJG on 07-19-23
By: Nathan Rose
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The Chess Revolution
- From the Ancient World to the Digital Age
- By: Peter Doggers
- Narrated by: George Weightman
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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In this fascinating pop culture history of the game and its impact, acclaimed Chess.com journalist Peter Doggers (also their news and events director), reveals how computers and the Internet have further strengthened the timeless magic of chess in the digital era, leading to a new peak in popularity and cultural relevance. Doggers explores chess as a cultural phenomenon: from its earliest beginnings in ancient India to its biggest stars and most dramatic moments to the impact of the internet and AI.
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Great Modern History Of Chess Book
- By James on 01-14-25
By: Peter Doggers
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The Plot Against America
- By: Philip Roth
- Narrated by: Ron Silver
- Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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In an astonishing feat of empathy and narrative invention, our most ambitious novelist imagines an alternate version of American history. In 1940 Charles A. Lindbergh, heroic aviator and rabid isolationist, is elected president. Shortly thereafter, he negotiates a cordial "understanding" with Adolf Hitler while the new government embarks on a program of folksy anti-Semitism.
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Life is imitating Roth's art
- By Matthew on 08-04-16
By: Philip Roth
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Memories, Dreams, Reflections
- By: C. G. Jung
- Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart
- Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1957, four years before his death, Carl Gustav Jung, psychiatrist and psychologist, began writing his life story. But what started as an exercise in autobiography soon morphed into an altogether more profound undertaking. The result is an absorbing piece of self-analysis: a frank statement of faith, philosophy, and principles from one of the great explorers of the human mind.
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My favorite Audible production so far
- By Gaggleframpf on 05-03-16
By: C. G. Jung
What listeners say about The Royal Game
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Cat S.
- 02-17-21
Brief but wonderful
My brother recommended this book after I expressed my excitement for Queen's Gambit. While this has nothing to do with it, it is truly a remarkable little book. As I am furthermore interested in psychology, this book makes for a great little psychological case-study (even if it isn't a true story). But it is so well written and describes the mental health of being confined, which I think during the current pandemic lockdown can be refreshing to read and remind ourselves that it can get a lot worse than what it is now!
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4 people found this helpful
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- Sandra Lorentzen
- 04-21-22
What a storyteller
Zweig puts the reader in the room. Masterful and gripping, whether you care about chess or not.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Brian Jason
- 10-24-21
The Audio is messed up
This is a great story and a fine reader. But the editor or producer is terrible. Maybe 40-50 words are cut off completely.
One issue with the reader: he pronounces “book” without a “k”
::shudder::
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1 person found this helpful
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- Patrick Zircher
- 06-10-24
Excellent
An arrogant savant meets his match in a man who was tortured by the Nazis.
This was superb. A classic among short stories and novellas like The Most Dangerous Game, Occurrence at Owl Creek, the Lottery, and so on.
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- John K. Barbour
- 11-16-23
Good overall but not great.
Reasonably well paced and sufficiently captivating if a bit dry. The story is quite interesting for both the Chess enthusiast and the History buff given its time frame and narrative devices. As mentioned, the story telling can run to the dry side at times but not too badly and it is quite short anyway. The recording occasionally cuts off words, though only one here and there.
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