The Secrets of the Chess Machine
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Product Description
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...'
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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...'
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From the Back Cover
`If you liked Perfume by Patrick Süskind, then you'll love The Secrets of the Chess Machine. Löhr's magical novel of murder and intrigue in the age of enlightenment will grip you from the very first page' Harper's Bazaar
`A wonderful romp...full of intrigue, betrayal, violence, chases, sexual tensions and unexpected encounters...the book captures well the fears, anxieties and theological doubts the Age of Enlightenment harboured about freaks, automata and the game of chess itself' The Independent
`A racy fictional treatment of one of the biggest hoaxes of the late eighteenth century. Löhr's swashbuckling tour - complete with duelling officers and fainting Fräuleins - is as entertaining as a ride at Disneyland' The Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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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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