The Queen's Gambit Summary
Walter Tevis

The Queen's Gambit Overview

In The Queen's Gambit, Walter Tevis tells the story of Beth Harmon. After her mother dies, Beth is taken to an orphanage where she is sedated with tranquilizers on a daily basis. One day, the janitor teaches her how to play chess, and she realizes she has an innate talent for the game. As she rises in the ranks of the chess world, ultimately travelling to Russia to play against the ultimate grandmasters, she struggles against addiction and her own insecurities. The novel explores isolation, sexism, power, addiction, and oppression.