The Queen's Gambit (novel)

The Queen's Gambit
First edition, featuring cover art by Will Barnet
AuthorWalter Tevis
LanguageEnglish
GenreFiction
PublisherRandom House
Publication date
1983
Publication placeUnited States
Pages243
ISBN1-4000-3060-9

The Queen's Gambit is a 1983 American novel by Walter Tevis, exploring the life of fictional female chess prodigy Beth Harmon. A bildungsroman, or coming-of-age story, it covers themes of adoption, feminism, chess, drug addiction and alcoholism. The book was adapted for the 2020 Netflix miniseries of the same name.

Epigraph

The novel's epigraph is "The Long-Legged Fly" by W. B. Yeats. This poem highlights one of the novel's main concerns: the inner workings of genius in a woman. Tevis discussed this concern in a 1983 interview,[1][2] the year before his death.

Development

In a New York Times interview published at the time of his book's release in 1983, Tevis stated the story is "a tribute to brainy women."[3] There has been speculation as to the inspiration for the Beth Harmon character, but Tevis emphatically denied that she was based on anyone in the chess community, male or female.[4]

In 2007, actor Heath Ledger was working on what would have been his feature directing debut, an adaptation of The Queen's Gambit, with British writer/producer Allan Scott.[5]

The leading role of a young female chess prodigy had been offered to Oscar nominee Elliot Page. Ledger, himself a highly rated chess player, was due to play a supporting role as well, until his untimely death.[6]

Bruce Pandolfini, a US chess master, consulted on the chess positions prior to the book's publication, and was the one who suggested the book's final title after the chess opening called "Queen's Gambit".[7][8] Thirty-eight years later, he also returned to consult on the 2020 Netflix adaptation.[7]

Plot

At the age of 8, Beth Harmon is orphaned when her mother dies in a car accident. She is sent to Methuen, an orphanage where the children are fed tranquilizers to keep them compliant.

While there Beth observes the janitor, Mr. Shaibel, playing chess by himself. While he is initially reluctant to teach a girl, Beth eventually persuades him to play with her. Within a few months Mr. Shaibel confesses he has taught her all he knows and introduces her to a local high school teacher who runs the chess club.

Shortly after Beth beats a group of high school students at chess, she learns that the state is banning the use of tranquilizers on children. During an attempt to hoard the remaining tranquilizers for herself she accidentally overdoses. As part of her punishment for being caught she is forbidden from playing chess and interacting with Mr. Shaibel. She is befriended by Jolene, an athletic 13-year-old black girl, who sexually assaults her in the girls’ bedroom one night.

Five years later at the age of 13, Beth is adopted by the Wheatleys. Mr. Wheatley abandons his wife shortly after Beth is adopted. Beth immediately tries to play chess again. After stealing a chess magazine she learns that a local high school is holding a chess tournament and secretly writes to Mr. Shaibel asking him to lend her the funds to enter the tournament. Despite being an unranked player and not having had access to a chess set in five years, Beth not only wins the tournament but defeats the Kentucky state champion Harry Beltik. Unable to cash her winnings herself, she reveals that she has won to Mrs. Wheatley. In desperate financial straits Mrs. Wheatley begins arranging for Beth to play more tournaments, focusing on the ones with the highest prizes and collecting a 10% agent's fee.

Beth attracts attention as a prodigy but meets the U.S. champion, Benny Watts, a former prodigy himself, and is beaten by him resulting in her being crowned U.S. co-champion. For several years she feels that despite her talent she is floundering as she is aging. She also continues to use both drugs and alcohol recreationally, stealing tranquilizers from Mrs. Wheatley and discovering that bingeing alcohol relaxes her anxiety. At the age of 18 she attends a competition in Mexico where she meets and is defeated by the Russian Vasily Borgov. Returning to her hotel room she discovers that Mrs. Wheatley has died, leaving her orphaned once again.

Back in the U.S., Beth reunites with Harry Beltik who, while he admires her for being an intuitive player, insists she study chess more seriously. They begin both a professional and personal relationship but after he teaches her all he knows he abruptly leaves to focus on his studies.

Beth attends the U.S. championships and manages to defeat Benny Watts. Finally the solo U.S. champion, she now gets invitations to compete internationally. Benny offers to coach her, so she moves to New York to study under him, and they also start a sexual relationship. Beth quickly outstrips Benny and goes to Paris confident she is capable of beating Borgov. But although she plays her best and makes no obvious errors, Borgov defeats her. Beth returns to Kentucky where she begins binge drinking.

After attending a tournament to defend her Kentucky state champion title and losing badly in the first game, Beth realizes she is an alcoholic. She reaches out to her old friend from Methuen, Jolene, now a phys ed teacher who is getting a master's in political science. Jolene helps Beth get clean, and Beth triumphs at her next tournament.

Beth prepares to go to the Moscow international tournament, desperate for revenge against Borgov. Benny offers to go as her second, i.e. as a player who will strategize with Beth and help her prepare. While there is not much money available through the U.S. Chess Federation, a Christian organization offers to pay for everything as long as Beth is prepared to promote anti-communist propaganda. Declining, Beth ends up returning their money and is left without Benny. She continues to Moscow alone.

In Moscow, Beth successfully defeats her opponents though she fears her final game against Borgov. She also comes to realize the Soviets help each other strategize for games while she is mostly alone. Her final game with Borgov is adjourned. That evening, she finds it difficult to analyze the game but is saved by Benny, who calls her from New York and offers her his analysis. Once the game resumes, Borgov offers Beth a draw. She declines, going on to win the game. Beth makes plans to beat Borgov in the next two years to become world champion. At the embassy party celebrating her win, she feels uncomfortable and leaves early, going to play chess in the park against a group of local men who play for love of the game.

Literary significance and reception

The novel is a thriller, a sports or game novel, and a bildungsroman.

The Queen's Gambit is sheer entertainment. It is a book I reread every few years—for the pure pleasure and skill of it.

— Michael Ondaatje (cover of Vintage paperback edition, 2003)

It is also highly praised for the technical accuracy of its depictions of chess:

New Yorker's reviewer was especially enthused with the novelist's recreation of the obsessive world of chess, noting that Tevis "does succeed in conveying the cerebral suspense with which would-be World Champions live." Harold C. Schonberg, writing in the New York Times Book Review, confirmed that Tevis "reveals a great deal about the world of American Chess, with a final glance at how the Russians operate, and it is an exceptionally accurate picture that he draws." Schonberg added: "Beth Harmon may not be prepossessing, but she has the dedication of a Biblical saint, a freak memory and an ability to synthesize and create and blow her little world apart with a kind of startling originality that nobody else can match. That is what chess on its highest level is all about." (From Contemporary Authors Online, 2007, Gale Reference)

Tevis based the chess scenes on his own experience as a "class C" player and on his long study of the game. He elaborates on this in the Author's Note for the novel:

The superb chess of Grandmasters Robert Fischer, Boris Spassky and Anatoly Karpov has been a source of delight to players like myself for years. Since The Queen's Gambit is a work of fiction, however, it seemed prudent to omit them from the cast of characters, if only to prevent contradiction of the record. I would like to express my thanks to Joe Ancrile, Fairfield Hoban and Stuart Morden, all excellent players, who helped me with books, magazines, and tournament rules. And I was fortunate to have the warm-hearted and diligent help of National Master Bruce Pandolfini in proofreading the text and in helping me rid it of errors concerning the game he plays so enviably well.

Some criticisms from Edward Winter:

The author ... tends to show insufficient ingenuity in his artificially stylized accounts of chess tournaments (e.g. lack of draws and, in the interests of suspense, having Beth meet all her strongest opponents in the final round).[9]

Screen adaptation

Prior to the 2020 Netflix miniseries, there were several unsuccessful attempts to adapt the book. In 1983, The New York Times journalist Jesse Kornbluth acquired the screenplay rights but the project was called off when Tevis died in 1984.[10] In 1992, Scottish screenwriter Allan Scott purchased the rights from Tevis' widow,[11] and wrote a script for an art house film. At different points directors Michael Apted and Bernardo Bertolucci were attached, but financing fell through. [12] In 2007, Scott was working with Heath Ledger on what would have been Ledger's directorial debut, where Ledger wanted actor Elliot Page to star as Beth Harmon. Ledger died in January 2008.[13] Scott co-created and co-executive produced the 2020 Netflix series.[14]

In March 2019, Netflix ordered a limited seven-episode series based on the novel, also titled The Queen's Gambit. Anya Taylor-Joy plays the lead role of the series, while Scott Frank serves as writer, director, and executive producer.[15] It was released on October 23, 2020, to widespread attention and critical acclaim.[16][17]

Stage adaptation

On March 8, 2021, it was announced that the stage rights to the novel had been acquired by the entertainment company Level Forward.[18]

On November 15, 2023, it was announced that singer-songwriter Mitski would be working on the music and lyrics for the Broadway adaptation of the show, working alongside playwright Eboni Booth and director Whitney White.[19]

Publication history

  • 1983, US, Random House
  • 2003, US, Vintage

References

  1. ^ Tevis, Walter S. (February 15, 1983). "Walter Tevis Interview with Don Swaim" (Interview). Interviewed by Don Swaim. Wiredforbooks.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016.
  2. ^ Tevis, Walter S. (February 15, 1983). "Transcript of Book Beat radio feature on Walter S. Tevis, broadcast circa March 2, 1983". Don Swaim Collection, Mahn Center for Archives & Special Collections (Interview). Interviewed by Don Swaim. Ohio University Libraries.
  3. ^ AUTHOR WHO CHECKMATED ACADEME www.nytimes.com, accessed 5 December 2020
  4. ^ Soltis, Marcy (May 1983). "Chess: A Novel Idea". Chess Life. pp. 16–17.
  5. ^ Dawtrey, Alan (January 23, 2008). "'Parnassus' team faces dilemma". variety.com. Variety. Archived from the original on September 2, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  6. ^ Cazzulino, Michelle (March 29, 2008). "Heath Ledger's gambit to be a director". news.com.au. The Daily Telegraph Australia. Archived from the original on April 3, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ a b Pandolfini, Bruce (November 2020). "The Queen's Gambit". Chess Life. pp. 30–.
  8. ^ Also see Author's Note for the novel quoted below
  9. ^ Chess Note 877, by Edward Winter
  10. ^ Kornbluth, Jesse (January 23, 2011). "The Queen's Gambit - Bookreporter.com". Bookreporter.com. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  11. ^ Bruce Pandolfini, page 30, November 2020, Chess Life
  12. ^ "'The Queen's Gambit' EP William Horberg on Season 2 & Series Decades-Long Journey – Golden Globe Reaction". February 3, 2021.
  13. ^ sharp, rob (March 14, 2008). "Heath Ledger – a prophetic tragedy". Features, Film & TV. The Independent. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022.
  14. ^ The Queen’s Gambit Teaser: Anya Taylor-Joy Is Addicted to Chess, Drugs, and More Chess 24 September 2020 www.vulture.com, accessed 6 December 2020
  15. ^ Thorne, Will (March 19, 2019). "Anya Taylor-Joy to Star in 'The Queen's Gambit' Limited Series at Netflix". Variety. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  16. ^ The Queen’s Gambit “phenomenon” becomes most popular limited series ever on Netflix www.radiotimes.com, accessed 6 December 2020
  17. ^ McHenry, Jackson (August 27, 2020). "The Queen's Gambit Trailer: Anya Taylor-Joy Dives Into Chess, Drugs, and More Chess". Vulture. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  18. ^ "The Queen's Gambit to become a stage musical". the Guardian. March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  19. ^ "'The Queen's Gambit' Stage Musical In Development With Singer-Songwriter Mitski, Playwright Eboni Booth & Director Whitney White". November 15, 2023.

Read other articles:

هذه المقالة يتيمة إذ تصل إليها مقالات أخرى قليلة جدًا. فضلًا، ساعد بإضافة وصلة إليها في مقالات متعلقة بها. (أبريل 2019) دنيس فلين معلومات شخصية الميلاد 17 ديسمبر 1923  مقاطعة كورك  الوفاة 19 أغسطس 2003 (79 سنة)   بيمبروك، أونتاريو  سبب الوفاة نوبة قلبية  مواطنة كندا  الح...

 

 

Doneil Henry Henry bermain untuk Kanada pada tahun 2013Informasi pribadiNama lengkap Doneil Jor-Dee Ashley HenryTanggal lahir 20 April 1993 (umur 30)Tempat lahir Brampton, Ontario, KanadaTinggi 1,88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]Posisi bermain BekInformasi klubKlub saat ini West Ham UnitedNomor 25Karier junior2008–2010 TFC AcademyKarier senior*Tahun Tim Tampil (Gol)2010–2013 Toronto FC 49 (1)2014–2015 Apollon Limassol 0 (0)2014 → Toronto FC (pinjaman) 21 (1)2015– West ...

 

 

This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources.Find sources: Zittau Mountains Nature Park – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2010) Zittau Mountains Nature ParkNaturpark Zittauer GebirgeZittau Mountains Nature Park covers the German parts of the Lusatian Mountains Logo for Zittau Mountains Na...

Spencer Pueblo Palacio de justicia del condado en Spencer SpencerUbicación en el condado de Van Buren en Tennessee Ubicación de Tennessee en EE. UU.Coordenadas 35°44′37″N 85°27′30″O / 35.743611111111, -85.458333333333Entidad Pueblo • País Estados Unidos • Estado  Tennessee • Condado Van BurenSuperficie   • Total 17.8 km² • Tierra 17.8 km² • Agua (0%) 0 km²Altitud   • Media 548 m s. n. m.Poblac...

 

 

Mack Trucks, Inc.JenisAnak perusahaanIndustriOtomotifDidirikan11 Juni 1900; 123 tahun lalu (1900-06-11) (dengan nama Mack Brothers Company)KantorpusatGreensboro, North Carolina, Amerika SerikatTokohkunciMartin Weissburg (Presiden)ProdukTruk sedang dan besarIndukVolvoSitus webmacktrucks.com Mack Trucks, Inc., adalah sebuah produsen truk asal Amerika Serikat, yang sebelumnya juga pernah memproduksi bus dan trolley bus. Didirikan pada tahun 1900 dengan nama Mack Brothers Company, perusahaan...

 

 

Armenian politician Aram Manukyan Not to be confused with Armenian revolutionary and statesman Aram Manukian (1879–1919). Aram Manukyan (Armenian: Արամ Մանուկյան; born March 9, 1957) is an Armenian politician. Early life Born in Vanadzor, Manukian graduated from the Hovhannes Tumanyan State Pedagogical University with a degree in physics. Between 1978 and 1983 he worked as a teacher at a secondary school in Yeghegnut. Between 1983 and 1993 he was an engineer at the Avtomatika S...

British actress and singer (born 1987) Cynthia ErivoErivo at the 2018 Tribeca Film FestivalBorn (1987-01-08) 8 January 1987 (age 36)Stockwell, London, EnglandAlma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic ArtOccupation(s)Actress, singerYears active2011–presentAwardsFull listMusical careerGenres R&B soul urban contemporary gospel Broadway Instrument(s)VocalsWebsitewww.cynthiaerivo.net Musical artist Cynthia Erivo (/əˈriːvoʊ/;[1] born 8 January 1987)[2] is an Engli...

 

 

British TV series or programme SoloGenreSitcomCreated byCarla LaneStarringFelicity KendalElspet GrayStephen MooreMichael HoweCountry of originUnited KingdomOriginal languageEnglishNo. of series2No. of episodes13ProductionProducerGareth GwenlanRunning time30 minutesOriginal releaseNetworkBBC1Release11 January 1981 (1981-01-11) –17 October 1982 (1982-10-17)Release10 March 1989 (1989-03-10) Solo is a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1981 to 1982. Starri...

 

 

2017 American horror film directed by Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo LeatherfaceTheatrical release posterDirected by Julien Maury Alexandre Bustillo Screenplay bySeth M. SherwoodBased onCharactersby Tobe HooperKim HenkelProduced by Christa Campbell Lati Grobman Carl Mazzocone Les Weldon Starring Stephen Dorff Lili Taylor CinematographyAntoine SanierEdited by Sébastien de Sainte Croixe Josh Ethier Music byJohn FrizzellProductioncompanies Millennium Films Campbell Grobman Films Mainline P...

Indian online food delivery platform SwiggyTypePrivateIndustryOnline food orderingFoundedAugust 2014; 9 years ago (2014-08)FoundersSriharsha MajetyNandan ReddyRahul JaiminiHeadquartersBangalore, Karnataka, IndiaArea served500+ cities across IndiaKey peopleSriharsha Majety (CEO)Rahul Bothra (CFO)Dale Vaz (CTO)ServicesFood deliveryOnline groceryCourierRevenue ₹5,705 crore (US$710 million) (FY22)[1]Net income ₹−3,629 crore (US$−450 million) (FY22)...

 

 

1976 film Shabana (1976 film)Film poster of ShabanaDirected byNazar Shabab[1]Produced byA. HameedStarringBabra SharifWaheed MuradShahid[1]NannaTamannaMasood AkhtarMusic byM. Ashraf[1]Distributed byNazar Arts ProductionsRelease date12 November 1976[1]Running timeapprox. 3 hoursCountryPakistanLanguageUrdu Shabana is a 1976 Pakistani Urdu language romantic drama film produced by A. Hameed and directed by Nazar Shabab. The film stars Babra Sharif, Waheed Murad and ...

 

 

2021 studio album by Chloe MoriondoBlood BunnyStudio album by Chloe MoriondoReleasedMay 7, 2021 (2021-05-07)Length43:47LabelFueled By RamenProducer Keith Varon David Pramik Peter Fenn Pete Robertson Jake Aron Only Twin John Paul Roney Chloe Moriondo chronology Spirit Orb(2020) Blood Bunny(2021) Blood Bunny (Acoustic)(2021) Singles from Blood Bunny Manta RaysReleased: June 26, 2020 I Want To Be With YouReleased: August 21, 2020 GIRL ON TVReleased: November 12, 2020 I Eat...

Lijnen van de Métro Léger de Charleroi Charleroi - Anderlues Charleroi - Anderlues Charleroi - Gosselies Charleroi - Soleilmont Onafgewerkte lijnen Charleroi - Châtelineau Metrolijn Charleroi Totale lengte8 kmType treinLight Rail Véhicule Traject Soleilmont Sart-Culpart afgebroken, ruimtereservatie aanwezig Sart-Culpart Marabout Gilly Gazomètre Samaritaine ongebruikte lijn naar Centenaire () keerlus Waterloo centrale ring van Janson Waterloo keerlus Waterloo keerlus Palais Palais aftakki...

 

 

Police ComicsPolice Comics #1 (August 1941), art by Gil Fox.Publication informationPublisherQuality ComicsScheduleMonthlyFormatStandardPublication dateAugust 1941 – October 1953No. of issues127Main character(s)MouthpiecePlastic ManPhantom LadyHuman BombFirebrand#711Creative teamWritten byJack ColeWill EisnerPaul GustavsonArtist(s)Jack ColeReed CrandallWill EisnerGil Fox Police Comics was a comic book anthology title published by Quality Comics (under its imprint Comic Magazines) from 1941 u...

 

 

Ștefan Tudor Medallista olímpico Datos personalesNacimiento 3 de marzo de 1943Fallecimiento 15 de febrero de 2021 (77 años)Carrera deportivaRepresentante de Rumania RumaniaDeporte Remo               Medallero Remo masculino Evento O P B Juegos Olímpicos 0 0 1 Campeonato Mundial 1 0 0 Campeonato Europeo 0 0 2 [editar datos en Wikidata] Ștefan Tudor (3 de marzo de 1943-15 de febrero de 2021) fue un deporti...

Process of refining lead metal The now closed Doe Run primary lead smelting facility in Herculaneum, Missouri Plants for the production of lead are generally referred to as lead smelters. Primary lead production[clarification needed] begins with sintering. Concentrated lead ore is fed into a sintering machine with iron, silica, limestone fluxes, coke, soda ash, pyrite, zinc, caustics or pollution control particulates. Smelting uses suitable reducing substances that will combine with t...

 

 

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Zakarine – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) King of Luang Phrabang Zakarine ສັກຣິນທຣ໌King of Luang PhrabangReign15 December 1895 (acting since April 1888) – 25 M...

 

 

Ordered list of elements an artist intends to present For other uses, see Set List. 9 × 12 laminate set list from a Dixie Chicks concert in 2003. In this instance, the keys the songs are played in are also given. The horizontal line (or a wide blank space) near the bottom delineates the encore.Setlist by X at The TLA in Philadelphia A set list, or setlist, is typically a handwritten or printed document created as an ordered list of songs, jokes,[1] stories and other elements an artis...

Les especies d'aves con nome común en llingua asturiana márquense como NOA. En casu contrariu, conséñase'l nome científicu. Lipaugus streptophorus Estáu de caltenimientuEsmolición menor (IUCN 3.1)Clasificación científicaReinu: AnimaliaFilu: ChordataClas: AvesOrde: PasseriformesFamilia: CotingidaeXéneru: LipaugusEspecie: L. streptophorusSalvin & Godman, 1884Distribución Consultes[editar datos en Wikidata] Cricrió de collar rosa, Lipaugus streptophorus ye una especie d'ave...

 

 

Ispaniya — Turkmaniston munosabatlari Ispaniya Turkmaniston Ispaniya — Turkmaniston munosabatlari — ikki mamlakat oʻrtasidagi ikki tomonlama diplomatik munosabatlar. Turkmanistonning Ispaniyada elchixonasi yoʻq, ammo Rossiyaning Moskva shahrida Ispaniyaning vakolatli elchisi bor[1]. Ispaniyaning Turkmanistonda elchixonasi yoʻq, ammo Moskvada turkman ishlari boʻyicha akkreditatsiyadan oʻtgan elchixonasi mavjud[2]. Diplomatik munosabatlar Ispaniya va Turkmaniston...

 

 

Strategi Solo vs Squad di Free Fire: Cara Menang Mudah!