Zweig, born in Austria in 1881, fled the Nazis and committed suicide in South America in 1942. This was his final novella, a tale of a man who taught himself chess while imprisoned by the Gestapo in isolation.  The amateur chess player has a nervous breakdown, (Chess Fever), and stops playing until he comes in accidental contact with the world champion on a boat to Rio from NYC.  The amateur becomes obsessed again and chess fever’s recurrence feels like the beginning of a fatal ending.  Zweig’s life is reflected in this story.  NYRB brings out of print classics back into active publication.