"In the dimension of reviving the mystique and wonder of chess, it is all too easy for those engaged in the rough and tumble of chess combat to overlook the mystery and infinite aesthetic profundity of its intellectual and iconic ethos. One example stands out... Barry has encountered many of the greats in person and across the board. Barry's insights into the relationship between Staunton pattern pieces, pawns and Masonic Symbology are worthy of a new Dan Brown novel. So, in this book, prepare to follow a Tour d'Horizon, a veritable Smorgasbord of chess information, artistic connections and inspirations combined with a mentally stimulating journey throughout the diverse ramifications of chess, art, culture and its place in the canon of civilised virtue."

Raymond Keene OBE, International Chess Grandmaster, Chess Correspondent of The Times