The Turk: The Life and Times of the Famous 18th Century Chess Playing Machine

Got into a talk about "The Turk" with a relative who'd never heard about it, which then made think I should get a book on it for myself. First of all, the supplier Chess & Bridge Supplies, 1st class!I've used them for chess items before, ordered the book on the 13th arrived the very next day even though it wasn't scheduled til the 19th, also had an old copy of chess weekly with it, nice extra. The book is very interesting, these inventors who surely must have been the Steve Jobs of their time, pushing the boundaries of what could be done with mechanical engineering at that time. What's also interesting is the other things these chaps invented that you learn about throughout the book, as well as the company they kept. Very interesting.

Was a gift but the person who read the book said it was a must and definitely enjoyed it. They read it in an evening couldn't put it down it was so good.

This is an excellent book. Standadge is a great writer. For those interested in chess, in automata, and in great frauds this is a must.

A1

For chess and technology enthusiasts, this is a great book. The story of the Turk is that of the marvel of chess and the illusion of technology. Brilliant and clever people were here long before our modern prophets.