Born in 1841, in New York, killed in the Civil War, James A. Leonard was the son of a poor Irish immigrant - but even a poor child could play the game of kings. Leonard grew up in a time when interest in chess was experiencing a revival, and Paul Morphy had captured nation's interest. Leonard defeated a number of the country's notable chess players and was widely viewed as the "New Morphy." Game scores and diagrams from 96 of Leonard's games are included.
The Civil War affected the entire American landscape in ways not always given their due consideration. Not only did it determine the political future of a nation, it influenced the scientific and cultural development of the country as well. The war cost America many of its best and brightest in every venue. James A. Leonard was one such loss: a brilliant up-and-coming chess player in 1861-62 before he made the decision to serve his country during wartime.
Born November 6, 1841, James A. Leonard was the son of a poor Irish immigrant-but even a poor child could play the game of kings. Leonard grew up in a time when interest in chess was experiencing a revival, and contemporaries such as Paul Morphy, Eugene Delmar and Leonard’s mentor Philip Richardson captured the interest of a country. Leonard defeated a number of the country’s notable chess players and was widely viewed as the “New Morphy.&rdquo
This biography discusses what little is known of Leonard’s life and death but concentrates primarily on Leonard’s ability and his sadly shortened career. Game scores and diagrams from 96 of Leonard’s games are included, with detailed descriptions regarding place, date and opponents.
Content
vii Foreword (Edward Winter)
001 Preface
003 Chapter One
030 Chapter Two
076 Chapter Three
136 Chapter Four
180 Chapter Five
207 Selected Bibliography
209 Player Index
211 General Index
The Civil War affected the entire American landscape in ways not always given their due consideration. Not only did it determine the political future of a nation, it influenced the scientific and cultural development of the country as well. The war cost America many of its best and brightest in every venue. James A. Leonard was one such loss: a brilliant up-and-coming chess player in 1861-62 before he made the decision to serve his country during wartime.
Born November 6, 1841, James A. Leonard was the son of a poor Irish immigrant-but even a poor child could play the game of kings. Leonard grew up in a time when interest in chess was experiencing a revival, and contemporaries such as Paul Morphy, Eugene Delmar and Leonard’s mentor Philip Richardson captured the interest of a country. Leonard defeated a number of the country’s notable chess players and was widely viewed as the “New Morphy.&rdquo
This biography discusses what little is known of Leonard’s life and death but concentrates primarily on Leonard’s ability and his sadly shortened career. Game scores and diagrams from 96 of Leonard’s games are included, with detailed descriptions regarding place, date and opponents.
Content
vii Foreword (Edward Winter)
001 Preface
003 Chapter One
030 Chapter Two
076 Chapter Three
136 Chapter Four
180 Chapter Five
207 Selected Bibliography
209 Player Index
211 General Index