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The Perpetual Chess Book Review series, Chess Books Recaptured is finally back! I am honored to be joined by renowned author and chess journalist Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam to discuss GM Jan Hein Donner\u2019s The King: Chess Pieces. The book is widely considered a 20th century classic and has been recommended by the likes of GMs Peter Svidler and Jan Gustafsson. It is a compilation of chess columns from a 3-time Dutch national champion, who spanned the chess generations between Max Euwe and Jan Timman. Donner is a brilliant, prescient and provocative writer who chronicles his own career, and also opines as the careers of Fischer, Spassky, Tal and others unfold in his proximity. Reading The King is a fun way to retrace 20th-century chess history, and the life and career of Donner. But, in my opinion, the book is not without its flaws. Donner\u2019s writing is sometimes offensive, particularly when he bombastically shares his views about women in chess. I was grateful to have Dirk Jan help me discern whether Donner was being sarcastic in some of his more scathing columns. After we finish discussing the book, I chat with Dirk Jan a bit about his current projects, and his work on New in Chess\u2019 excellent new podcast. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.\xa0\n0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:\nhttps://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro\n0:02- What is Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam\u2019s personal history with The King and with its author, GM Jan Hein Donner?\xa0\nMentioned: Dutch novelist Harry Mulisch\n\n0:09- How is the English edition of The King, connected to the history of New in Chess publishing?\nMentioned: Allard Hoogland, Taylor Kingston\u2019s review of the 1997 edition of The King:\nhttps://www.chesscafe.com/text/donner.txt\n\n12:00- We discuss Donner\u2019s personal life, including the one, short-lived, real job that he had at IBM.\xa0\nMentioned:\xa0\nHein Donner: The Biography by Alexander Munninghoff\xa0\n\n18:00- Some of Donner\u2019s most famous writing is very sexist- how was it viewed at the time?\xa0\nMentioned: GM Jan Gustafsson\xa0\n\n\n23:00- Did Dirk Jan work directly with Richard de Weger, the book\u2019s translator?\xa0\n\n24:00- Likes and dislikes from the book, starting with his acquaintance with Donner\u2019s beautiful reflections on Fischer and Spassky.\xa0\nMentioned: Richard James\u2019 review of Hein Donner, The Biography:\nhttps://britishchessnews.com/2020/08/07/hein-donner-the-biography/\n\n\n42:00- What was Donner\u2019s opinion of legendary Dutch World Champion, Dr. Max Euwe?\xa0\n\n43:00- What did Donner mean by his famous quote \u201cChess is a game of chance?\u201d We also discuss a few other memorable quotes.\xa0\n\n48:00- Was Donner being sarcastic when he wrote at length that \u201cwomen cannot play chess\u201d?\xa0\n\n54:00- Why is Donner\u2019s rivalry and demeaning writing about Dutch champion Lodewijk Prins, such a famous part of Dutch chess history?\xa0\nMentioned: GM Ben FInegold\u2019s video on Donner:\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXqpyLUt6mM\n\n59:00- Closing thoughts on The King\n\n1:03:00- Dirk\u2019s thoughts on the Candidates and his other current big project\nMentioned: The Real Paul Morphy by FM Charles Hertan, Games and Goals\xa0\n\n1:08:00- How is Dirk Jan enjoying podcasting?\nMentioned: New in Chess Podcast:\nhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2Mj990NfwvaOh4GCKWLMJ7?si=2ec5f58435f44686\nEpisode 207 with Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam\xa0\n\n\nThanks to Dirk Jan for sharing his knowledge and experiences with this book! Be sure to sub to the New in Chess Podcast!\xa0\n\nhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2Mj990NfwvaOh4GCKWLMJ7?si=eb1eca7173d44ae2\n\nIf you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:\xa0\nhttps://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices