The Exploits and Triumphs of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion

The Exploits and Triumphs of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion is a book about Morphy's legendary European tour of 1858 written by Frederick Milnes Edge. By his teenage years Morphy has beaten America's number one player, Louis Paulson, in a highly publicized blindfold match. He took off to Europe in order to challenge Howard Staunton, leading European player, but when he arrived, Staunton avoided the match. Edge follows Morphy across Western Europe as he challenges some of the best chess players of the time and beats them often blindfolded. Edge documents the voyage as a journalist, complete with a historical rundown of the important English chess clubs at the time, portraying vivid descriptions of chess cafes with great flair for characterization and setting.

Frederick Milnes Edge (1830-1882) was a journalist and chess enthusiast who followed chess player Paul Morphy during his stay in England and France, serving as his assistant. Thanks to Edge, much is known about Morphy and many games Morphy played were recorded only thanks to Edge.