Zenón Franco on the English, published by Gambit in 2006 as part of the Chess Explained series, which teaches an opening through complete annotated games rather than variation tables.
Seven chapters in three parts, following Black’s reply. Part 1 takes the Symmetrical English after 1.c4 c5, covering the Hedgehog, the double fianchetto, the Rubinstein System and the remaining symmetrical lines. Part 2 turns to the Reversed Sicilian after 1.c4 e5, where the Reversed Rossolimo gets its own chapter. Part 3 covers the Nimzo-English and the Mikenas Attack. Each chapter sets out the ideas in prose first and then works through the games that illustrate them. A list of games and an index of variations close the book.
Best for: club players taking up the English who want the ideas before the theory. Intermediate.