The Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion
Frederick Milnes Edge
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Paul Morphy, born in New Orleans in 1837, was considered the greatest chess player of his era. He was a child prodigy who learned playing chess simply by watching family members play, and when he was only 9 years old, he was hailed as the best chess player in New Orleans.
This book describes Morphy's trip to Europe, i.e., England and France, where he wanted to play the European Champion Staunton, a match that never came about as the correspondence included in this book shows. He did play - and beat - virtually every other strong player in Europe though, and tales of these matches and people make up a large part of this book. After his triumphs in Europe, Paul Morphy was considered the unofficial World Chess Champion, as official championship tournaments were only held from 1886.
Morphy retired from chess in 1859 in order to devote himself to his law practice. He died from a stroke in 1884. (Summary by Availle) (5 hr 38 min)
Chapters
Preface | 3:20 | Read by Availle |
Morphy's First Games | 3:21 | Read by Availle |
The First American Chess Congress | 12:52 | Read by Jacob Paul Starr |
Morphy Prepares to Start for Europe | 16:54 | Read by Jacob Paul Starr |
Chess in England, part 1 | 27:48 | Read by Jacob Paul Starr |
Chess in England, part 2 | 27:43 | Read by Jacob Paul Starr |
Morphy in England, part 1 | 21:29 | Read by Jacob Paul Starr |
Morphy in England, part 2 | 25:43 | Read by Jacob Paul Starr |
The Staunton Affair, part 1 | 20:29 | Read by MaryAnn |
The Staunton Affair, part 2 | 28:21 | Read by MaryAnn |
The Staunton Affair, part 3 | 23:57 | Read by MaryAnn |
The Staunton Affair, part 4 | 30:26 | Read by MaryAnn |
Morphy in France | 6:10 | Read by John Kooz |
The Café de la Régence | 10:23 | Read by John Kooz |
The Match Between Morphy and Harrwitz | 13:39 | Read by MaryAnn |
Morphy's Greatest Blindfold Feat | 10:03 | Read by MaryAnn |
Continuation Of the Match With Harrwitz | 6:30 | Read by John Kooz |
Morphy in Society | 8:59 | Read by Julia Niedermaier |
Morphy and the French Amateurs | 9:12 | Read by KHand |
Morphy Gets Beaten | 4:16 | Read by KHand |
Morphy and Anderssen | 15:50 | Read by MaryAnn |
Morphy and Mongredieu | 4:14 | Read by KHand |
Trophies and Valedictory | 6:44 | Read by KHand |