Secret Notes

David Bronstein describes the chess personalities he has met in various countries over the past decade, and annotates 40 of his best games from this period. He also recalls the most significant events from his earlier career, gives his impressions of contemporaries such as Larsen, Spassky and Korchnoi (including a secret training match against the latter played in 1971), and expresses his outspoken views on modern chess.

When this book was in the final stages of publication, the publisher received the sad news that David Bronstein had passed away.

Bronstein was barred from travelling to the West for 13 years, after his refusal to join other Soviet grandmasters in denouncing Victor Korchnoi for his defection in 1976. When the barriers finally came down in the late 1980s, he eagerly used his newly-gained freedom to travel to numerous countries in Europe. 

In the foreword Bronstein confesses: "It transpired that in Europe my name had not been forgotten, they were reading my books and, amazed that I was still alive, chess clubs began showering me with invitations." 

This book book gives an account of these travels, on some of which Bronstein was accompanoied by his wife Tatyana Boleslavskaya, who addes her own intriguing impressions.

As an 'extra' Bronstein shows his previously unknown training match with Korchnoi from 1970, annotating all six games.  

• Casa editrice Olms Edition
• Code 5665
• Anno 2007
• Pagine p. 232
• Isbn 9783283004644