Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny, and the Making of a Grandmaster

A real life Queen’s Gambit, this captivating memoir tells the story the most renowned woman in chess history, Susan Polgar, taking on a sexist establishment, standing up to an authoritarian empire and rewriting the rules of what women could achieve against the oppressive backdrop of Cold War Eastern Europe.

Born to a poor Jewish family in Cold War Budapest, Susan Polgar had the odds stacked against her—from having few resources, to growing up in a sexist culture rife with vicious anti‑Semitism. Yet her father subscribed to the belief that geniuses are not born, but created, so he set out to ensure her success in an unlikely field: chess. 

 At age 4, she won her first tournament. By 15, she was the top‑rated female player in the world. She was the first woman ever to hold the men's Grandmaster title—chess's highest designation. The ensuing wins and accolades provided incredible highs to coincide with extreme lows as Polgar's celebrity brought backlash, including sabotage and state‑sponsored intimidation.

REBEL QUEEN is the memoir of her improbable rise, offering a rare behind‑the‑scenes chess story and featuring some of the game's most legendary characters. Yet it is a narrative that transcends chess, the story of a genius, treated from birth as a second‑class citizen, who thrilled against all odds. It is an incredible underdog story told by the woman who actually lived it.