200 classic cryptic crosswords from the Guardian's extensive archives.

A brand-new collection of fiendish puzzles from the best Guardian setters

“This cultural and personal history of crosswords and their fans, written by an aficionado, is diverting, informative, and discursive.” —The New York Times Book Review, Editors’ Choice A delightful, erudite, and immersive exploration of the crossword puzzle and its fascinating history Almost as soon as it appeared, the crossword puzzle became indispensable to our lives. Invented practically by accident in 1913, when a newspaper editor at the New York World was casting around for something to fill empty column space, it became a roaring commercial success almost overnight. Ever since then, the humble puzzle has been an essential ingredient of any newspaper worth its salt. But why, exactly, are the crossword’s satisfactions so sweet? Blending first-person reporting from the world of crosswords with a delightful telling of its rich literary history, Adrienne Raphel dives into the secrets of this classic pastime. Thinking Inside the Box is an ingenious love letter not just to the abiding power of the crossword but to the infinite joys and playful possibilities of language itself.

The Everyman crossword in The Observer is one of the most widely-attempted Sunday crosswords. This satisfying new collection, published as the crossword celebrates its 80th anniversary, gathers together 100 of the best puzzles in the series. It also includes an introduction by Everyman and a lively foreword by the comedian Dave Gorman. While appealing to solvers of all levels of experience, the Everyman crossword is often suggested as a good starting point for those new to cryptics, and fledgling solvers will find the solutions notes and introduction to cryptic clue types to be invaluable.

Packed with examples from the Guardian's celebrated compilers - from Araucaria and Rufus to Bunthorne and Janus - Secrets of the Setters explains how all the different types of cryptic clues work. It shows you how to unravel the elliptical language and how to spot the tricks of the compiler's trade. The book also includes a large selection of practice puzzles and a handy list of words and letters that setters commonly use as their cryptic building blocks.

Challenge yourself at home with word and number puzzles Challenge yourself with this set of cryptic puzzles from the most famous crossword in the world compiled by the Times Crossword Editors. Following in the tradition of The Times' authoritative, highest-quality, challenging cryptic crosswords, this latest collection offers an enjoyable and stimulating way to while away your free time and exercise the grey matter with intriguing clues and complex wordplay. Enjoy pitting your wits against the crafty elegance of the world's best crossword setters Addictive, taxing and compelling, this book is packed with 200 high-quality puzzles chosen by former Times Crossword Editors. Puzzles taken from previously published titles.

Attention all Shipping Forecast fans. Set sail on a voyage unlike any other... Each day, millions tune in to hear the Shipping Forecast's unique cadence and poetry, words thatturn our island landscape into something strangeand magical. It's almost like a puzzle to be solved... The Shipping Forecast Puzzle Book tests your general knowledge and lateral thinking through a series of fiendish puzzles, in which all the answers can be found on a map as place names on the coasts or in the seas. For example: · An eagle's under this · What a Komodo Dragon really is · Near where someone was horribly cruel to 343 felines And because your voyages trace the shapes of letters of the alphabet, that's just the beginning... With a foreword by Zeb Soanes, the voice of the Shipping Forecast, and fully illustrated with specially commissioned maps, The Shipping Forecast Puzzle Book will help make you a Master of the quizzing world.