"William Steinitz, Chess Champion, A Biography of the Bohemian
Caesar" by Kurt Landsberger, 1993 & 1995 McFarland &
Company, Hardcover, English Algebraic Notation, 470pp., $55.00

About four years ago, McFarland released Kurt Landsberger's
then-new biography of the first world champion Wilhelm Steinitz.
The review essentially pointed out that an enormous amount of
research had been done in producing what amounted to the first
comprehensive biography, but that the final result was still in need
of a good editor, proofreader and overall organizer. The second
edition of the book has just become available, and, with the
exception of the typographical errors, the book is the same.

After the review was published (for you Internet veterans, it was on
the old USA-Today Sports Center - the 'Linc') the author, unable
to accept anything less than a glowing report, made sure to
telephone and send us copies of other wonderful reviews. The only
response, after reading what others had to say, was that it seemed
we were the only ones to read the book cover to cover...

For a pastime which has produced so much literature, there are
surprisingly few biographies which have been written about the
royal game's major personalities. We are not talking about game
collections, which, of course, abound. We are talking about
legitimate biographical endeavors. David Lawson's monumental
work on Paul Morphy comes immediately to mind, along with
Winter's excellent treatise on Capablanca. There is also the hybrid
which is part biography and part game collection. Kotov's work on
Alekhine and Hannak's on Emanuel Lasker are examples of this
genre. Biographical material, particularly in English, on the first
official world champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, is surprisingly scarce.
The author of this biography of Wilhelm Steinitz is a distant cousin
of the great champion; he was born a Steinitz, with his surname
changed early in life for personal reasons. The book actually was
started as the author's own autobiography. However, as he delved
deeper into his family history, he became aware of the historical
significance of his ancestor and decided that the book should be a
biography about him. 

Approximately ten years of extensive research both in the United
States and Europe, with particular emphasis on the information
extracted from the historical archives of Vienna, Prague and
London, went into the making of this book. Landsberger
painstakingly followed leads wherever they appeared, even making
several trips to the Russell Collection for source material. In short,
the amount of new quality material collected in this one volume is
quite impressive. The material is presented in eight chapters,
divided by time periods. Thus, the first chapter is "1836-1862," the
second chapter is"1862-1872," etc. The biographical material takes
up the first 404 pages of the book. This is followed by a very short
section,  presented by British chess historian Ken Whyld, about
Steinitz' tournament and match record. American GM Andy Soltis
then annotates fifteen Steinitz games, which is followed by a short
but interesting piece by David Hooper, "The Theory of Steinitz." 

This book is a labor of love by a distant relative of the great world
champion and theorist. Landsberger himself is not a chessplayer.
This, plus the unfortunate absence of a steady editorial hand which
should have been provided by the publisher, are drawbacks from
which the book does not quite recover. 

In the first few pages, there is random and confusing use of the first
and third person. As the book progresses, this stylistic defect
gradually disappears. What remains, however, is a disorganized,
disjointed and haphazard presentation. The narrative on pages
52-53 is quite typical. In the space of only two pages, the following
are touched upon, in varying depth: (1) Steinitz' description of
Charles Bradlaugh; (2) Steinitz' play against Lord Randolph
Churchill in a simultaneous exhibition; (3) Richard Doddridge
Blackmore's chess quotation; (4) The lack of play by Steinitz from
1867 to 1870; (5) The death of Steinitz' father; (6) The operation
on Steinitz' tear ducts; (7) The high cost of travel and the
conditions thereof; and (8) Steinitz' win of the 1870 Baden-Baden
tournament. The items are presented in staccato fashion with little
or no connection. 

The effect on the reader's comprehension is hard to imagine. Were
this an isolated instance, it might be able to be overlooked, but it is
not. The logical presentation of biographical material is
chronological. When there is major deviation from this, without
rhyme or reason, the result is a confusing hodgepodge. The author
readily admits he is not a chessplayer. As Ken Whyld points out in
the curiously titled section "An opinion about this book" - "...as a
nonchessplayer he [the author] had no preconceived ideas." 

True enough, but the book also oftentimes suffers from the author's
failure to appreciate either conduct or statements by others whose
stature in Steinitz' chess world would be easily recognized by most
people with even a passing chess historical frame of reference. As
one example, a letter to Steinitz as editor of his "International
Chess Magazine" by Amos Burn simply refers to it as coming from
"A. Burn" (p.46).

Although it appears that the great majority of the typographical
errors from the first edition have been corrected, the editors at
McFarland seem to have remained asleep at the wheel. After
finishing this book (actually, much before you reach the end!) you
have the feeling that it contains wonderful data, if you could only
access it in some meaningful manner... It is as if you are told that a
storage room contains everything you want to know about Steinitz,
but then you are simply led into the room, full of boxes, and left to
your own devise. This makes reading a struggle; the book is easy
to put down. 

Still, there can be no doubt that to date, even with the re-release of
the second edition, this book contains the most thoroughly
researched data about Wilhelm (Anglicized by the author to
William) Steinitz yet available in English. Indeed, the bibliography
itself is quite impressive (131 sources), although we are puzzled, in
view of the frequent references to Morphy, why Lawson's
definitive work on the American genius was not consulted. In
addition, the section of fifteen games annotated by Soltis is quite
good. Soltis not only annotates the games well, he also does not
forget abut the historical significance of the propounded theories
exemplified by Steinitz' play.  All in all, despite its sometimes
serious drawbacks, this book is a milestone in chess publishing.
That is because it is basically the first book to present in one
volume all the available information about one of the most
influential and significant theoreticians and players of all time.

There will undoubtedly be other reviews of this book. It indeed
should be reviewed - it remains the only definitive truly
biographical work on the first world champion. And clearly anyone
with an interest in Steinitz or chess history will have to have a copy
of this book. It will continue to sell well, despite its shortcomings.
But, if you find yourself wondering why this review is not heaping
praise so quickly or lavishly, just keep in mind - we read it cover to
cover.