It’s interesting to see Paul Morphy mentioned in the clues. That’s probably a name you’ve heard. Born in New Orleans in 1837, he was quickly recognized as a child prodigy. By age 19, he had received his law degree and admission to the bar; supposedly, he memorized the entire civil code of Louisiana. Too young to practice law, he instead toured Europe playing his hobby, and beating the best chess players in every country he visited. His later life was not happy, though. He suffered from serious depression and paranoia, and that sets up today’s theme.
 
As usual, we have comments from the puzzle creators. Read on if you’ve already tackled the challenge.
Notes from Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
 
David Foster Wallace {1962-2008} was a brilliant polymath, prose stylist and thinker. Perhaps best known for his 1996 novel, Infinite Jest, he also distinguished himself in mathematics, philosophy and logic. His journalistic pieces were so wide-ranging as to bedazzle: he wrote essays about rappers and race, cruise ships, lobster festivals, John McCain’s 2000 presidential run, David Lynch, pornography, the U.S. Open tennis tournament, state fairs and tornadoes. No subject in science or popular culture seemed too great a challenge for his mind and pen. But he was a troubled soul, suffering chronically from depression, and in 2008, he committed suicide.
 
This passage from Everything and More: A Compact History of Infinity is from a piece about the mentally troubled mathematician Georg Cantor; It may also evoke the figure of John Nash; Played by Russell Crowe in the movie, "A Beautiful Mind." Touchingly, of course; It also evokes Wallace’s own adventurous and turbulent mental state.