The Cain S Jawbone Book Of Crosswords

“If you’re ready for an extra-hard, old-time challenge, have at it!”-- Will Shortz From the creator and publisher behind the viral sensation Cain's Jawbone: A Very Novel Mystery, is a collection of 112 difficult cryptic crossword puzzles. Before Edward Powys Mathers wrote the world's most fiendishly difficult literary puzzle, he was a cryptic crossword creator. Under his pseudonym "Torquemada", his puzzles would taunt readers for days. He created his first cryptic crossword puzzle in 1924 and went on to set them for the Saturday Westminster and the Observer for the next 15 years. His true identity was only revealed when he died in 1939. As well as earning the reputation for setting the world's toughest crosswords, Torquemada - or 'Torq' as he was often referred to - was also delightfully creative: with many puzzles written in perfectly constructed verse, or delivered as mini-narratives to their solvers. There's even a version where the clues are knock-knock jokes. For many years cryptic crosswords were simply known as puzzles in the 'Torquemada style'. This selection of Torquemada's best crosswords was originally published in 1942 and contains three short accounts of Torquemada's life and achievements, including one by his widow, R.C. Mathers as well as a foreword by the crossword puzzle editor for the New York Times, Will Shortz. The successful revival of Cain's Jawbone has inspired a new generation of puzzle solvers. Here then is the next challenge for Torquemada's fans - dare you take it on?

In 1924, Simon & Schuster published its first title, The Cross Word Puzzle Book. Not only was it this new publisher's first release, it was the first collection of crossword puzzles ever printed.Today, more than seventy-five years later, the legendary Simon & Schuster Crossword Puzzle Book series maintains its status as the standard-bearer for cruciverbal excellence. Published every two months, the series continues to provide the freshest and most original puzzles on the market. Created by the best contemporary constructors -- and edited by top puzzle master John M. Samson -- these Sunday-sized brain-breakers offer hours of stimulation for solvers of every level.Can you take the challenge? Sharpen your pencils, grit your teeth, and find out!

DIV2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the crossword puzzle. Journalist Arthur Wynne had wanted to devise a new game for the back of the newspaper back in 1913, so he created a diamond grid and called it a “Word-Cross,” and thus the first crossword puzzle was born./divDIV Editor and crossword constructor Ben Tausig examines the curious history of the world’s most addictive game and its unusual upbringing. Accompanied by 100 unique and challenging puzzles from the past 100 years, he examines the evolution of grid shape, how basic expected knowledge of the reader has changed, the puzzles that break the “breakfast table rule” and more. Featuring puzzles from top constructors like Will Shortz, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Matt Jones, Cathy Millhauser, Maura Jacobson, and more. Try your pen or pencil on the crosswords your parents, grandparents, or great grandparents did decades ago!/div

Now in its 75th year, this legendary series continues to provides some of the freshest, most original, and most challenging puzzles around. Spiral bound.

From the renowned puzzle editor, here is the collection in the oldest and most famous crossword series in the world with challenging puzzles by experts in the field.

This latest selection of 75 updated vintage crosswords will delight puzzle enthusiasts everywhere.

A collection of Brittish style crosswords to challenge the American fan. All puzzles created in 1993 by renowned puzzle maker Wayne Robert Williams.

Created by the best contemporary crossword constructors and edited by top puzzle master John M. Samson, these puzzles provide clever and stimulating challenges for solvers of every level. Spiral bound.