2007-11-10 A Knight & His Queen

Given the popular view of Chess as mechanical & abstract, this novel radiates surprising warmth. Perhaps because the story is not *only* about Chess. It's also about what might appear a perfect contrast to the world of abstract games: near-unconditional love between two living humans.

The central protagonist, Luzhin, grows up a Chess prodigy, becomes a top world player, meets the love of his life, a woman of character who loves him back despite his appalling health, & uncouth traits. Their union lasts for a while, until - but you should read the rest.

Now there's no escaping that the book turns around the axis of Chess. Though Nabokov always evades the purely technical, I have a hard time pushing the book to people who are not at least interested in gaming in the most general terms, & perhaps know the basics of Chess (this is roughly my own case). Much of the story deals with how its main character, within the realm of Chess, is a dancer in the greatest Russian tradition, & to appreciate the full beauty of this, however indirectly conveyed by Nabokov's elegant style, some appreciation for abstract games are an asset.

Still, it's in the real, earthy & fleshy world that one woman instantly recognizes our hero as master of an exalted craft. When he later runs into trouble, she is true to him, striving to transform him - less for her own comfort than out of compassion, & for his survival. Her love, & his appreciation of it, are moving. Though the novel does lose a little pace towards the end, this is more than made up for by calm, incandescent splendour. A Love Story, probably unreadable if it weren't so intelligently written.