Rebel Queen

I first heard about Susan Polgar when her little sister Judit was held up as a “real life” version of the main character in the popular novel-turned-Netflix-mini-series, The Queen’s Gambit. A quick search revealed that Judit was almost nothing like the orphaned, drug addicted chess prodigy in the novel. Sure, she was a female chess champion, but she was no orphan, nor was her childhood a horrific mess, and her chess playing was not a stroke of inborn genius. She had two sisters who were also chess champions, including her older sister Susan, whose recent memoir Rebel Queen details how the sisters’ gifts were the result of very careful and deliberate cultivation.

Much of the first few chapters is spent on describing how the Polgar’s father had a specific set of educational theories that stressed the ability of any child to succeed if they are given the time and support needed to focus on something they love. The only lucky accident is that the first thing thing Susan expressed interest in was chess. Had she not found a chessboard and asked to play, she very well may have gone down the pathway of becoming a mathematician as her father originally planned. Her parents were flexible enough to shift to Susan’s tastes, and she loved chess so much it is no wonder her two younger sister chose to follow suit – and particularly in Judit’s case, exceeded some of Susan’s accomplishments. Susan was the first woman to be named a grand master, but Judit’s career overall surpassed hers, a matter in which Susan seems to take great pride. Looking back, it’s shocking to read how people accused the Polgar’s of child abuse when Susan first appeared at tournaments as a child (which she often won). In a refreshing twist, Susan has nothing but praise for her parents to whom she credits her amazing accomplishments and overall joyous life. 

She does, however, have a lot to say about everyone else. 

Growing up in communist Hungary, Susan was often the source of intense controversy in the chess world. Especially regarding her insistence on playing against men rather than in female only events. Obviously, we only hear one side of the story, but the evidence is fairly convincing. For whatever reason, the communist regime definitely attempting to block her career numerous times and made it difficult for her to travel to tournaments. When her travel visas finally do come through, Susan’s descriptions of seeing other countries, including her first visit to the US, are a reminder of all the good things about my home country that I often forget. As we follow Susan’s transition from playing for Hungary to retiring, only to comeback in spectacular fashion in order to play for the USA before teaching at a collegiate level, I wondered how those early events affected Susan’s world view. She certainly wasn’t afraid of a fight and refused to take less than what she felt she and her sport deserved. 

I’d never thought of the Polgar family as particularly religious. Susan herself acknowledges that they did not observe much, but to think of them as anything other than Jewish would be an epic mistake. Susan’s often mentions Jewish values and her grandparents Holocaust experiences, as having an impact on the family’s decisions. They did not flee Hungary, even when they had the chance, and they never backed down to threats and intimidation. Moreover, Susan loved chess particularly because when she sat down at the board she believed neither her gender nor her religion should matter whatsoever. It should be a match of equals, so long as both had the chance to study chess (indeed she often won against opponents who had far more governmental and financial backing).

I highly recommend reading Rebel Queen in audio. Narrator Suzanne Toren is an easy listen, and there are many tense moments during crucial matches. When I had the story playing out loud, visitors would often linger to listen along for a chapter or two. 

Particularly moving for me, was the last third of the book where Susan transitions from active competitor to teacher and mentor. Her accomplishments in this arena almost overshadow her accomplishments as a player herself. Perhaps that is why she says she was never jealous of her sisters – she had a hand in training them, and her team records show she was an unparalleled coach. She most certainly raised the profile of chess as a sport in the USA. Which reminds the reader that the book began with the Polgar’s educational theories. The epilogue, in which Susan thanks her parents for the childhood and education they gave her, brings the entire narrative full circle. 

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