- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Fig Tree; First Edition First Impression edition (31 May 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0670916358
- ISBN-13: 978-0670916351
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 595,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Secrets of the Chess Machine
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Product Description
Product Description
In Vienna 1770, Baron Wolfgang von Kempelen unveils a strange and amazing invention, The Mechanical Turk, a sensational and unbeatable chess-playing automaton. But what the Habsburg court hails as the greatest innovation of the century is really nothing more than a brilliant illusion. The chess machine is secretly operated from inside by the Italian dwarf Tibor, a God-fearing social outcast whose chess-playing abilities and diminutive size make him the perfect accomplice in this grand hoax. Von Kempelen and his helpers tour his remarkable invention all around Europe to amaze and entertain the public, but despite many valiant attempts and close calls, no one is able to beat the extraordinary chess machine. The crowds all across Europe adore the Turk, and the success of Baron von Kempelen seems assured. But when a beautiful and seductive Countess dies under mysterious circumstances in the presence of the automaton, the Mechanical Turk falls under a cloud of suspicion, and the machine and its inventor become the target of espionage, persecution, and aristocratic intrigue. What is the dark secret behind this automaton and what strange powers does it hold? From the leaden dungeons of Venice to the imperial court in Vienna, from the palaces of the Pressburg nobility to the alleyways of the Jewish quarter, "The Secrets of the Chess Machine" is the breathtaking historical adventure, based on a true story, of a legendary invention.
From the Inside Flap
'What held him spellbound from the first was the object in the
middle of the room, covered with a linen cloth and waiting for its maker's
return. The shapes outlined under the fabric told Tibor that it was the
chess machine. He could make out a head and shoulders, and the table-top
for the chessboard in front of them. Tibor approached the automaton with
care, as if approaching a corpse, and just as one might draw back a
winding-sheet Tibor life the linen...'
middle of the room, covered with a linen cloth and waiting for its maker's
return. The shapes outlined under the fabric told Tibor that it was the
chess machine. He could make out a head and shoulders, and the table-top
for the chessboard in front of them. Tibor approached the automaton with
care, as if approaching a corpse, and just as one might draw back a
winding-sheet Tibor life the linen...'
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
On the way from Vienna to Paris with his family Wolfgang von Kempelen stopped in Neuchâtel, where on 11 March 1783, at the inn on the marketplace, he presented his legendary chess machine, an android in Turkish robes that could play chess. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
On the way from Vienna to Paris with his family Wolfgang von Kempelen stopped in Neuchâtel, where on 11 March 1783, at the inn on the marketplace, he presented his legendary chess machine, an android in Turkish robes that could play chess. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A well written, thoroughly readable novel, based on a real-life eighteenth century hoax. It's a great idea for a novel, that is equally well executed. The story focuses on Wolfgang von Kempelen, an ambitious civil servant in the Hapsburg Empire, who builds a 'chess machine' to impress the Empress. However, the 'machine' is really powered by an Italian dwarf named Tibor. As the fame of von Kempelen's invention spreads, the stakes become higher and the lengths to which he must go to protect his secret become greater.
What unfolds is a gripping thriller, intelligently written throughout, and with very well drawn characters. Both Tibor and von Kempelen are fascinating characters, as is Jakob, the Jewish carpenter who builds the 'chess machine'. There are some good supporting female characters too, in the shape of a scheming Viennese courtesan and a slightly unbalanced Hungarian baroness. I really cared about the characters and was emotionally involved in their story, which increased the drama and kept the pages turning.
Lohr shows a good understanding of human nature and interactions, and evokes the mood of the age and place very well. It's a well paced novel that keeps the reader guessing, and has a nicely written ending. He is equally at home writing scenes set in the Hapsburg court and lively scenes in local taverns, writing a tense emotional encounter or a rip-roaring rooftip chase.
I would recommend 'The Secrets of the Chess Machine' to most readers. It's a highly entertaining read but interesting with it, and one that the reader can become involved in. It mixes action with suspense, insight, sadness, humour and period drama, to make a well balanced book that is a plesure to read.
What unfolds is a gripping thriller, intelligently written throughout, and with very well drawn characters. Both Tibor and von Kempelen are fascinating characters, as is Jakob, the Jewish carpenter who builds the 'chess machine'. There are some good supporting female characters too, in the shape of a scheming Viennese courtesan and a slightly unbalanced Hungarian baroness. I really cared about the characters and was emotionally involved in their story, which increased the drama and kept the pages turning.
Lohr shows a good understanding of human nature and interactions, and evokes the mood of the age and place very well. It's a well paced novel that keeps the reader guessing, and has a nicely written ending. He is equally at home writing scenes set in the Hapsburg court and lively scenes in local taverns, writing a tense emotional encounter or a rip-roaring rooftip chase.
I would recommend 'The Secrets of the Chess Machine' to most readers. It's a highly entertaining read but interesting with it, and one that the reader can become involved in. It mixes action with suspense, insight, sadness, humour and period drama, to make a well balanced book that is a plesure to read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Excellent way to start my reading in 2009... This is a thoughtful yet provocative novel that turns on the concept of creating and exploring illusions in many forms, not just the central one of the automaton chess player. Religion, morality, love, lust and many more ideas are thrown into the pot whilst the pace of the story remains constantly high speed. Could not recommend more highly to those who enjoy a bit more than a good story.
Also try, Paul Auster's, 'The Book of Illusions'
Also try, Paul Auster's, 'The Book of Illusions'
Format:Paperback
I was intrigued from the start by this novel, the blurb drew me in from the start but it sat on my bookshelves for over a year unassuming and unnoticed.
As soon as i picked it up again the story gripped me. The writting style is beautiful, descriptive but still elegant and flowing.
The characters spring to life and you grow to love them, which makes the story itself all the more interesting. I loved the plot premise...this magnificent illusion, the wooden turk opperated by a hungarian dwarf. The automaton becomes an interesting side note in the end though as we grow to love the characters and our desire to learn of their future depens.
Would thoroughly recomend this novel!!
As soon as i picked it up again the story gripped me. The writting style is beautiful, descriptive but still elegant and flowing.
The characters spring to life and you grow to love them, which makes the story itself all the more interesting. I loved the plot premise...this magnificent illusion, the wooden turk opperated by a hungarian dwarf. The automaton becomes an interesting side note in the end though as we grow to love the characters and our desire to learn of their future depens.
Would thoroughly recomend this novel!!
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