Parlett’s History of Board Games

Written by game researcher and inventor, David Parlett, History of Board Games explores the origins and ongoing evolution of popular and lesser-known board games. The book is an updated edition from a previous release titled The Oxford History of Board Games.

Over 386 pages, Parlett provides insight into the history and development of more than 200 games, from the ancient predecessors of checkers and chess to modern classics like Monopoly, Scrabble, and Trivial Pursuit. His writing style is as accessible and entertaining as the games he profiles.

Parlett’s analysis is organized into nineteen chapters, each devoted to a family of games. Categories include space games (e.g. Go, Othello); race games (e.g. Backgammon, Snakes & Ladders); capturing games (e.g. Chess, Checkers); and modern classics (e.g. Cluedo, Monopoly).

In addition to enthusiastically delving into each game’s backstory, Parlett also discusses the rules and strategies behind the games. Various illustrations and diagrams accompany the text and illustrate some of the finer points.

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