The Turk, Chess Automation

Levitt, Gerald M.

ISBN 10: 0786407786 / ISBN 13: 9780786407781

Published by McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina, 2000

About this Item

Solid with light wear on the covers from rubbing and a small light bump on the bottom right corner of the front cover. A manufacturing defect, the covers are upside down to the interior binding. The original owner has underlined the chess game titles in red ball point pen ink. "With all new research revealing facts unrecalled for two centuries, this is a richly detailed and exhaustive account of the elaborate and astonishing 18th century chess-playing machine in human form known as "the Turk", Baron Wolfgang von Kempelen's amazing Automaton that held the world spellbound for 85 years beginning in 1770." Size: 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Seller Inventory # 30213

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Turk, Chess Automation

Publisher: McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina

Publication Date: 2000

Binding: Hard Cover

Condition: Good- Very Good

Edition: First Edition.

About this title

Synopsis:

With all-new research and facts unknown for two centuries, this is a richly detailed and comprehensive account of "The Turk," Baron Wolfgang von Kempelen's amazing but fraudulent Chess Automaton that held the world spellbound more than fifty years beginning in 1770. In actuality, the Turk was manipulated by a man housed in a hot box, working by candlelight-but the secret was kept for decades. Besides playing a good game of chess within an hour's time, the manipulator had to keep track of the moves, work the pantograph arm apparatus, nod the head, roll the eyes, cover up sneezes and coughs, and work the sound mechanism. This work contains a detailed discussion of the literature surrounding the Turk along with an analysis of its hidden operation. The complete collection of published games played by the Turk, many, again, unknown for 200 years, is also included.

About the Author:

Gerald M. Levitt has been playing postal and over-the-board chess for many years. He has authored numerous articles for Chess Life and Florida Chess, written a chess column, and made live radio appearances as a chess expert. A retired doctor of podiatric medicine, he lives in Naples, Florida.