85 photos, 1,198 games, 376 diagrams, tables, appendices, notes, bibliography, indexes. From the cover: No chess player of the 19th century had a longer, more varied career than Henry Edward Bird (1829–1908). He belonged to the top level of British players for decades but he really shone at Simpson’s Divan. Bird’s accessibility, fierce attacking style and contempt for draws made him a people’s favorite but his proud and touchy character led him into disputes with his colleagues. This comprehensive first biography of Bird provides a detailed account of his personal life and a deeply researched coverage of his feats at the chess board. Almost 1,200 games are included, hundreds of them published here for the first time. Nearly 450 games—many of them thrilling all-out fights—are presented with a mix of contemporary and modern annotations. More information can be found at mcfarlandbooks