The Queen's Gambit - Walter Tevis - A Short Summary & Review

 The Queen's Gambit - Walter Tevis - A Short Summary & Review

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

The problems and passions of a precocious chess prodigy.

A short summary:

The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis follows the rise of Beth Harmon, a precocious chess prodigy whose extraordinary talent is matched by equally profound personal struggles. Orphaned at a young age, Beth discovers chess in the basement of her orphanage and quickly reveals a genius for the game.

As Beth ascends through the competitive chess world, her life becomes shaped by obsession, ambition, addiction, and isolation. The novel traces not only her mastery of the board but also the psychological toll of brilliance, exploring how passion can both save and consume. Chess becomes more than a game; it is Beth’s language, refuge, and battlefield.

My favorite quote from the book:

"Maybe is a loser's word."

- Walter Tevis, The Queen's Gambit

Questions to ponder while reading:

Can you develop a strategy?

Do you like to win?

My review:

The Queen’s Gambit was a thrilling surprise. I went in with little expectation and came away completely absorbed. Tevis transforms chess. something I had never considered dramatic, into a tense, high-stakes psychological arena filled with rivalries, pressure, and quiet devastation.

Beth Harmon is a compelling, flawed protagonist whose intensity drives the story forward. The novel is engaging without being flashy, relying on internal tension rather than spectacle. What stood out most is how easily Tevis made obsession understandable, even relatable.

It’s rare for a book to turn a cerebral pursuit into genuine suspense, but The Queen’s Gambit does exactly that. An unexpectedly gripping read.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

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