Chess: the seemingly simple game that contains infinity. For centuries it has served as a metaphor for society, informing military strategy and influencing mathematics, the arts and artificial intelligence. Popes, rabbis and imams have condemned it as the devil's game; Caliph Muhammad al-Amin lost his life trying to checkmate a courtier while Benjamin Franklin used chess as a cover for secret diplomacy.

Here, David Shenk chronicles its intriguing saga from ancient Persia to post-modern Europe, examining along the way a single legendary game that took place in nineteenth-century London. With its blend of cultural history and lively personal narrative, The Immortal Game is a compelling guide for novices and aficionados alike.