This is the book I read on my 50th birthday between my run and the Circle Line. It's very short and I've been saving it as I enjoy Stefan Zweig immensely and it was a nice birthday treat. It's the tale of a very intense game of chess aboard a cruise ship between two very odd, very enigmatic incredible players - one a world-famous grandmaster and the other a mysterious stranger whose ability to play chess like the devil is inexplicable. As very often happens, it made me want to live in the world Stefan Zweig characters inhabit, while being aware that if I did live in that world I'd be the put-upon servant that may get to see the glamorous life of the wealthy and rootless but never really participating. I was very worried about whether we'd be able to complete the Circle Line at our advanced age, but it was a great turnout and we got round, although more sensible people left early or came along later. It took me a long time to recover, I still wasn't back to normal 3 days later when I set off on my cycling adventure (see next few books), and I don't think we'll be doing it ever, ever again. It was great to see Clay, Dunc, Wendy and others though. I have absolutely no memory of getting back after the Princess of Wales, but I was on my own and somehow negotiated SWT and got off at Woking.
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