Parlett's History of Board Games

Originally published in 1999 as 'The Oxford History of Board Games,' this seminal work by David Parlett was created to fill a significant void in ludology, the study of games. Parlett, a renowned games inventor and historian, sought to provide a definitive, scholarly yet accessible account of how board games evolved from ancient pastimes to modern strategic endeavors. The book is widely regarded as a foundational text that categorizes games by their mechanics and historical origins, moving beyond mere trivia to offer a structured academic framework for understanding gaming culture.

The 2018 reissue by Echo Point Books & Media maintains the integrity of Parlett’s original research, which draws on extensive linguistic and archaeological evidence to trace the lineage of classics like chess, backgammon, and mancala. Parlett’s design focus was on taxonomic clarity, ensuring that the development of rules and pieces was placed within its correct social and historical context. Upon its initial release and subsequent reprints, the book earned critical acclaim among game designers and historians for its intellectual rigor and the author’s unique perspective as both an academic researcher and a professional game creator.