A historical novel based on the life of Paul Morphy, who is considered to have been the first world chess champion and possibly the strongest chess player in the history of the game. Paul Charles Morphy was born on June 22, 1837 in New Orleans Louisiana. His father was Alonzo Morphy. His mother was Louise ThÔerßese Felicite Thelcide Le Carpentier. He learned the moves of chess simply by watching his uncle and father play. Nobody taught him the rules. By age 9 he was regarded as the best player in New Orleans. By age 21 he was regarded as the best chess player in the world.