King

THE KING spans a writing career of more than thirty years during which Donner slowly developed from chess player-writer into writer-chess player.Donners favourite themes are: Bobby Fischer, the blunder, chess as a game of luck, why women cant play chess, madness, and poor Lodewijk Prins, his rival for the Dutch National Championship for many years, who, according to Donner, couldnt tell a bishop from a knight.THE KING is a book full of insults and ironies, but Donner wouldnt be Donner without a considerable amount of self-mockery.After I resigned the last game with perfect self-controland solemnly shook hands with my opponent in the bestof Anglo-Saxon traditions, I rushed home where I threwmyself onto my bed, howling and screaming, and pulledthe blankets over my face.