Soviet Outcast by Grigory Levenfish (hardcover)

This Soviet Outcast by Grigory Levenfish is a hardcover chess book that combines autobiography, chess history and carefully annotated games in one English-language edition. It is the first English publication of Levenfish’s memoirs, expanded with diagrams, additional games and a 30-page afterword by GM Jacob Aagaard.

What this book covers

Grigory Levenfish was a two-time Soviet champion who drew a match with Botvinnik, yet he remained outside the circle of favoured Soviet chess pieces. This book reflects that position from the inside, combining his own memories with a vivid picture of chess life in Russia before and after the revolution.

Levenfish also writes about meeting some of the biggest names of the first half of the twentieth century, including Lasker, Rubinstein, Alekhine and Capablanca. The result is both a personal chess memoir and a record of an era, from the difficult early Soviet championships played during the civil war to the struggle to survive the winter of 1941.

What’s included

The core of the book is Levenfish’s commentary on 79 of his best games, translated from the Russian autobiography. Alongside that, you get additional games gathered from other sources, most of them also annotated by Levenfish himself, plus a 30-page afterword by GM Jacob Aagaard.

That makes this a strong choice for readers who want chess history as well as practical study material. The games are presented with diagrams and enough context to make the book useful both for reading and for analysis at the board.

Publication details

• Language: English
• Format: hardcover
• Page count: 304
• Includes: diagrams
• Publication date: 30 October 2019
• ISBN: 978-1-78483-086-1

Key details

• Product type: hardcover chess book
• Content: autobiography, chess history and annotated games
• Edition: first English edition of Levenfish’s memoirs
• Annotated games: 79 of Levenfish’s best games
• Included material: diagrams and additional games from other sources
• Afterword: 30-page afterword by GM Jacob Aagaard
• Page count: 304
• ISBN: 978-1-78483-086-1