The Cain's Jawbone Book of Crosswords
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The Cain's Jawbone Book of Crosswords

The Cain's Jawbone Book of Crosswords

By
Edward Powys Mathers (Author) Will Shortz (Contributor)  

Paperback

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Before Edward Powys Mathers wrote Cain's Jabwone, the world's most difficult literary puzzle, he was a cryptic crossword creator. Published 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. This selection of Torquemada's best crosswords was originally published in 1942 and this edition contains tributes to his 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 is the next challenge for Torquemada's fans - dare you take it on? Health warning: These crosswords are extremely difficult and not for the faint-hearted. Illustrations, unspecified
Edward Powys Mathers (1892-1939) introduced the cryptic crossword to Britain in 1926 through the pages of the Observer. Known as Torquemada, he was acknowledged as a brilliant translator and a critic specialising in crime fiction. In 1934 he published a selection of his puzzles under the title The Torquemada Puzzle Book - the final hundred pages of which contained the novel-cum-puzzle Cain's Jawbone. His true identity was only revealed when he died in 1939, and this selection of Torquemada's best crosswords was originally published in 1942.
  • Contributor: Edward Powys Mathers
  • Imprint: Unbound
  • ISBN13: 9781789651669
  • Number of Pages: 400
  • Packaged Dimensions: 129x198mm
  • Format: Paperback
  • Publisher: Unbound
  • Release Date: 2023-09-21
  • Binding: Paperback / softback
  • Biography: Edward Powys Mathers (1892-1939) introduced the cryptic crossword to Britain in 1926 through the pages of the Observer. Known as Torquemada, he was acknowledged as a brilliant translator and a critic specialising in crime fiction. In 1934 he published a selection of his puzzles under the title The Torquemada Puzzle Book - the final hundred pages of which contained the novel-cum-puzzle Cain's Jawbone. His true identity was only revealed when he died in 1939, and this selection of Torquemada's best crosswords was originally published in 1942.

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