This magazine style book covers Alekhine's simultaneous and exhibition adventures from 1923 to 1939. Over 140 games are presented (most against very weak opposition) with close attention to detail concerning where he went and what he did. Sadly, most of it is uninteresting (perhaps purists who get a rush from the sight of toasting bread will find it all worth reading).

Believe it or not, my favorite parts of the book concerned two photos: one of Alekhine and his son, the other of Alekhine and his cat (appropriately named Chess). Perhaps a book of lost Alekhine photos would have been better received?

Quite well done if you're into this sort of thing, I can attest to the difficulty of dredging up dated, deeply buried information. Donaldson did his usual thorough job of unearthing lost facts but, as I asked him while he was darting from one library to another, why bother in the first place? If you do like reports of Alekhine's simultaneous exhibitions, The Complete Games of Alekhine (volume two) by Vlastimil Fiala and Jan Kalendovsky might be worth checking out.

YOU CAN FIND THIS BOOK AT