The Chess PlayersPremchand
The Chess Players
Premchand · 1880–1936 · India
Originally Shatranj Ke Khiladi (Hindi)
Why it matters
Two idle noblemen play chess through their afternoons undisturbed, even as the British quietly annex the kingdom around them. Premchand's most anthologized story turns a card table into a scathing parable of aristocratic decline, later filmed by Satyajit Ray.
At a glance
satirehistorical fictionshort story collection
Difficulty 3/10fast pace32 pagesA short, ironic tale that reads quickly once its historical stakes are clear.
Where to go next
Premchand · 1927NirmalaLvl 3Medium pace
Premchand · 1931GabanLvl 3Fast paced
Premchand · 1936GodanLvl 3Medium pace
Mahasweta Devi · 1974Mother of 1084Lvl 5Medium paceToba Tek Singh and Other Stories
Saadat Hasan Manto · 1955Toba Tek Singh and Other StoriesLvl 4Fast paced
Ismat Chughtai · 1942The Quilt and Other StoriesLvl 4Fast paced