Famous Estonian chess grandmaster Paul Keres has been hardcovered. Four volumes. Four thousand pages. Eight kilograms.
Adams, Jimmy
"Paul Keres"
2024
https://mailchi.mp/newinchess.com/paul-keres-4-volume-set?e=c3c0e02253
As an Estonian chessplayer and an admirer of Paul Keres and his talent, I should be happy. But I am not.
The work is too expensive for me. The retail price is 250 euros, and even the pre-order price of 200 euros is too expensive.
I am also worried about the politicization of chess.
I have seen too many nasty tricks in the attempts to convince the publicity that now, finally, it has been scientifically proven and without reasonable doubt that the Soviet regime blocked Paul Keres from becoming the world champion. Up to outright forgeries.
And now, I have seen too much of how sports, including chess, have been heavily politicized, in the most biased manner, concerning the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war. I have also seen how, in Estonia, during that war, in a hurry, one more movie was made about Paul Keres and the Soviet regime.
Therefore, excuse me, but I will not pay 200 euros to check the quality and objectivity of the four volumes.
I am prepared to pay some money only if I know beforehand that it is not yet another work containing political propaganda and demagoguery.
