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Peter May, the best-selling, prolific Scottish writer (born 1951), penned his novel 'The Chessmen' over ten years ago. [This is NOT the English Peter May of cricket fame (1929-1994).]
The story, set on the Scottish outer Hebrides island of Lewis, off the northwest mainland coast, is a mystery / thriller. It starts as a poaching case, then evolves into pursuit of the suspect, then into a very strange dead body discovery of a long-disappeared musician (known to the two main characters!), and then gets even more interesting!
Despite the title, there is minimal actual chess involvement. The Lewis Chessmen were discovered on the west coast of the island in 1831, and it is believed the nearly 100 ivory pieces are Norse in origin, and date from the 11-12th century period. There was significant trade between Norway and Scotland in that era, and historians believe that Scandinavian chess first arrived through trade with Muscovy, present-day central Russia (and coming there first through trade from the Middle East, the foundation of chess). Most of the Lewis pieces are currently displayed in the British Museum in London, with all but one of the rest (privately owned) held in a Lewis museum. Mr. May brings this Lewis set into his story in a tangential manner only, but with a Lewis set and board re-creation, in large-sized wooden carvings as a very creative element! I guess that the 'chess' aspect refers to much of the story's plot more in an allegorical way!
On both of my extended trips to the United Kingdom (totaling 15 weeks), I was fortunate to spend a day on Lewis, reachable by ferry from the northwest town of Ullapool. It is a hauntingly beautiful area of the world, very wild and rural, and I felt I was stepping back in time, with a slower pace and the virtual lack of many modern life elements. So Mr. May's story, vividly illustrating the local settings, was very appealing to me. I won't say anything more, so as to not spoil the story for others! Recommended!!
The story, set on the Scottish outer Hebrides island of Lewis, off the northwest mainland coast, is a mystery / thriller. It starts as a poaching case, then evolves into pursuit of the suspect, then into a very strange dead body discovery of a long-disappeared musician (known to the two main characters!), and then gets even more interesting!
Despite the title, there is minimal actual chess involvement. The Lewis Chessmen were discovered on the west coast of the island in 1831, and it is believed the nearly 100 ivory pieces are Norse in origin, and date from the 11-12th century period. There was significant trade between Norway and Scotland in that era, and historians believe that Scandinavian chess first arrived through trade with Muscovy, present-day central Russia (and coming there first through trade from the Middle East, the foundation of chess). Most of the Lewis pieces are currently displayed in the British Museum in London, with all but one of the rest (privately owned) held in a Lewis museum. Mr. May brings this Lewis set into his story in a tangential manner only, but with a Lewis set and board re-creation, in large-sized wooden carvings as a very creative element! I guess that the 'chess' aspect refers to much of the story's plot more in an allegorical way!
On both of my extended trips to the United Kingdom (totaling 15 weeks), I was fortunate to spend a day on Lewis, reachable by ferry from the northwest town of Ullapool. It is a hauntingly beautiful area of the world, very wild and rural, and I felt I was stepping back in time, with a slower pace and the virtual lack of many modern life elements. So Mr. May's story, vividly illustrating the local settings, was very appealing to me. I won't say anything more, so as to not spoil the story for others! Recommended!!