THE TRUE STORY OF THE MYSTERIOUS CHESS-PLAYING MACHINE THAT GRIPPED THE WORLD
In 1770, in the imperial court of Vienna, one of the most extraordinary and baffling inventions in history was unveiled to the cries of shocked courtiers. The Mechanical Turk immediately became a sensation: a life-sized clockwork figure dressed in Eastern costume that, somehow, could play world-class chess. For decades this incredible automaton confounded audiences across Europe and America. It trounced grand masters, outwitted Napoleon, defeated Benjamin Franklin and was even said to have stopped Catherine the Great from cheating.
What was its secret? Could a machine really think? During its chequered career the Turk sparked frenzied speculation and often downright fabrication, but now the truth can finally be revealed ...
In this gripping account, Standage reveals the secret of the Turk. He spins out the mystery like a thriller-writer, building the tension and teasing us with red herrings ... a rattling good yarn told by a natural entertainer' Daily Mail
'Filled with delightful stories ... a subject that is not only fascinating, but which also resonates with contemporary issues' Guardian
THE TRUE STORY OF THE MYSTERIOUS CHESS-PLAYING MACHINE THAT GRIPPED THE WORLD
In 1770, in the imperial court of Vienna, one of the most extraordinary and baffling inventions in history was unveiled to the cries of shocked courtiers. The Mechanical Turk immediately became a sensation: a life-sized clockwork figure dressed in Eastern costume that, somehow, could play world-class chess. For decades this incredible automaton confounded audiences across Europe and America. It trounced grand masters, outwitted Napoleon, defeated Benjamin Franklin and was even said to have stopped Catherine the Great from cheating.
What was its secret? Could a machine really think? During its chequered career the Turk sparked frenzied speculation and often downright fabrication, but now the truth can finally be revealed ...
In this gripping account, Standage reveals the secret of the Turk. He spins out the mystery like a thriller-writer, building the tension and teasing us with red herrings ... a rattling good yarn told by a natural entertainer' Daily Mail
'Filled with delightful stories ... a subject that is not only fascinating, but which also resonates with contemporary issues' Guardian
Weight | 270 g |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Penguin |
Width | 12.7 cm |
Height | 19.7 cm |
Medium | Book |
Year of Publication | 2002 |
Author | Tom Standage |
Language | English |
Edition | 1 |
ISBN-10 | 014029919X |
ISBN-13 | 9780140299199 |
Pages | 274 |
Binding | paperback |
ix Preface
CHAPTER ONE
001The Queen's Gambit Accepted
CHAPTER TWO
021 The Turk's Opening Move
CHAPTER THREE
039A Most Charming Contraption
CHAPTER FOUR
055 Ingenious Devices, Invisible Powers
CHAPTER FIVE
071Dreams of Speech and Reason
CHAPTER SIX
089 Adventures of the Imagination
CHAPTER SEVEN
101The Emperor and the Prince
CHAPTER EIGHT
121 The Province of Intellect
CHAPTER NINE
149The Wooden Warrior in America
CHAPTER TEN
175Endgame
CHAPTER ELEVEN
193The Secrets of the Turk
CHAPTER TWELVE
223 The Turk Versus Deep Blue
248 Notes
254 Sources
260 Acknowledgments
262 Index
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