Soviet Outcast by Grigory Levenfish (Paperback)

This Soviet Outcast by Grigory Levenfish is an English-language paperback chess book that combines autobiography, chess history and carefully annotated games from one of the most overlooked masters of the twentieth century.

What the book covers

Rather than offering only a game collection, it also gives you Levenfish’s own memories of the chess world he knew at first hand. He writes about Russia before and after the revolution, the early Soviet championships played during the difficult years of the civil war, journeys to the Caucasus and Crimea, and everyday life during the war, including the winter of 1941.

The book also includes first-hand accounts of names such as Lasker, Rubinstein, Alekhine and Capablanca, making it a strong choice for readers who want chess history told by a leading player rather than through a dry chronicle.

What’s included

You get Levenfish’s comments on 79 of his best games, translated from his Russian autobiography, along with additional games gathered from other sources, most of them also annotated by the author. The edition is completed by a 30-page afterword by GM Jacob Aagaard, and it is the first English edition of Levenfish’s memoir.

That makes it useful both as historical reading and as a study aid for anyone interested in Levenfish’s direct, concrete style and his readiness for complications. The included chess diagrams also make it easier to follow the critical moments without setting up every position on a board.

Key details

• Product type: paperback chess book
• Author: Grigory Levenfish
• Language: English
• Edition: first English edition
• Annotated games: 79 of Levenfish’s best games
• Afterword: 30-page afterword by GM Jacob Aagaard
• Page count: 304
• ISBN: 978-1-78483-086-1