Thomas Frere And The Brotherhood Of Chess: A History Of 19th Century Chess In New York City

This work provides an historical and chronological look at the 19th century development of chess through the writings of Thomas Fr?re. His books, letters, chess columns and scrapbooks chronicles the ways chess evolved over the greater part of the 1800s, and illuminates important players of the time and their games. The main text is divided into four sections covering 1827?1900. The first section looks at the early years as chess moved from private to public venues, discussing the establishment of formal chess clubs such as Fr?re's 1856 Brooklyn Chess Club. The second section deals with the First American Chess Congress and the advent of Paul Morphy to the world of chess. The third section focuses on Fr?re's part in the first formal world chess championship, a role thoroughly documented in Fr?re's letters. The fourth section examines the last decade of the 1800s and the steps that led chess into the 20th century.