Game and Playe of the Chesse : A Verbatim Reprint of the First Edition, 1474

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jacobus, de Cessolis, active 1288-1322

Contributor:

Caxton, William, 1422?-1492?

Axon, William E. A. (William Edward Armytage), 1846-1913.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Game and Playe of the Chesse" by William Caxton is a historical treatise on the game of chess that was initially printed in the late 15th century. As one of the earliest works of English literature, this book serves as both a guide to playing chess and an allegorical exploration of morality and governance, reflecting the societal and ethical norms of the period. The text draws from various medieval moral and philosophical sources, presenting the game as a metaphor for life and statecraft. The opening of the treatise introduces the text, setting up its exploration of chess not just as a game, but as a means to convey wisdom and virtue. Caxton explains his motive for translating the work into English to make it accessible to those who could not read in French or Latin. He outlines the structure of the book, detailing the different sections that examine the origins of chess, its moral implications, and the roles of its pieces in a broader ethical context. This opening portion indicates that the book will interweave practical gameplay with philosophical lessons, making it a significant historical document as well as a manual for chess enthusiasts. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Debra Storr and PG Distributed Proofreaders

Notes:

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Game_and_Playe_of_the_Chesse

Reading ease score: 54.8 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2004-01-01