A "book review" by James Pratt

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O.G. Urcan
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A "book review" by James Pratt

Post by O.G. Urcan » Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:08 am

Here is a passage from page 123 of Hans Renette's McFarland book on Louis Paulsen:
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That is fine, but this is what appears in a "book review" by James Pratt (https://britishchessnews.com/2019/10/23 ... ns-renette):
macdonnell2.jpg
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The date is wrong (1880, not 1857), the quote is garbled, and, above all, the passage is said by James Pratt to concern Paulsen, instead of Anderssen.

James Pratt calls the author "Rennette."

- O.G. Urcan

Roger Lancaster
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Re: A "book review" by James Pratt

Post by Roger Lancaster » Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:54 pm

I'm no historian but Anderssen, according to Wikipedia, died in March 1879 which would rule out a description of an 1880 encounter with him.

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Christopher Kreuzer
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Re: A "book review" by James Pratt

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Thu Oct 24, 2019 2:03 pm

The account was written by MacDonnell in 1880, describing his encounter with Anderssen in 1857 (23 years earlier).

Putting the review to one side, what do people think of the book by Renette on Paulsen? £60 is not within my budget, but it does sound good.

O.G. Urcan
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Re: A "book review" by James Pratt

Post by O.G. Urcan » Thu Oct 24, 2019 2:50 pm

Roger Lancaster's strange post seems to be based on a simple misreading of my post.

Hans Renette's book is excellent.

James Pratt
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Re: A "book review" by James Pratt

Post by James Pratt » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:46 pm

I have corrected on screen and with thanks to all these experts.

O.G. Urcan
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Re: A "book review" by James Pratt

Post by O.G. Urcan » Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:24 am

Still on the subject of James Pratt's "review":

The Paulsen book weighs 1.3 kilos, and not "about 5 kilos." It was published in Spring 2019, and not on "30 Nov. 2018." It has 441 pages, and not "274."

James Pratt
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Re: A "book review" by James Pratt

Post by James Pratt » Fri Oct 25, 2019 4:56 pm

I have corrected on screen and thanked Olimpiu personally at the end.

Hans Renette
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Re: A "book review" by James Pratt

Post by Hans Renette » Fri Oct 25, 2019 6:37 pm

Let me add to the remarks about this review that Owen finished a sound 2 points behind Paulsen at the London 1862 tournament, while I'm also very curious to find out about Paulsen's contributions to the Leningrad Dutch! I must have overlooked those ;-).
Thanks for the positive review!
Hans

James Pratt
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Re: A "book review" by James Pratt

Post by James Pratt » Fri Oct 25, 2019 9:14 pm

John Upham is threatening never to give me any more review copies. I tried emigrating but my luggage was 5 kilos over weight, so I got stopped in customs while they searched for contraband, Leningrad Dutches, I fear. I had in mind x ... Nh6 but Harding (1976), a book I have always loved, is silent. However, be in no doubt, Richard James is doing most of the historical stuff now. Sorry Hans and yes ;-)

James

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