Acclaimed as a master of the cryptic crossword, Azed has been a favourite with The Observer’s solvers for 35 years. Here he presents a hand-picked selection of 100 crosswords which originally appeared in the paper between 1992 and 2001. These original and distinctive puzzles include 85 challenging cryptics and 15 taxing themed crosswords.
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‘Azed’s crosswords are a source of delicious frustration and – if and when they yield up their secrets – delightful fulfilment. They have given me great pleasure (and some despair) over many years.’
About the Author
Jonathan Crowther has been setting crosswords as Azed for The Observer since 1972. A retired lexicographer, he lives in Oxford.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Anon
Format:Paperback
For many solvers Azed's work represents the pinnacle of achievement in the art of the cryptic crossword. Over thirty-plus years his weekly Observer puzzles have achieved an amazing level of consistency, being tough to solve while scrupulously fair to the solver, highly original but never impenetrable, and above all, erudite, witty and fun. The vocabulary explores the furthest reaches of the Chambers dictionary and beyond. There are references in clues to the arts, popular culture, politics, history and sport, especially the language of cricket. Probably the only weakness in his polymathy is science (oh no, another protein!). And those penny-dropping moments, when the wordplay and definition reveal themselves in a completely unexpected way, abound.
The book will principally appeal to crossword fans who have already tried Azed's puzzles and are hungry for more (or just want to revisit their favourites), but it's to be hoped that they will also use it to introduce others to the delights of this setter. Azed pays tribute to his loyal regular solvers by including many puzzles in which one clue is a prize-winner from his monthly clue-writing competitions (with acknowledgements alongside the solution).
It would be hard to choose the hundred best puzzles of the period this collection covers, but none of these will disappoint, and many are absolute gems.
By BARNEY
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have done the Observer AZED crossword for many years, and this was the first book I have actually purchased. I am delighted with it.
By P. Reardon
Format:Paperback
Those of us old enough to remember Ximenes' crosswords in The Observer will certainly appreciate how superbly his role was taken over by Azed as far back as 1972, and still going strong. The Chambers Book of Azed Crosswords is designed for those who simply cannot wait a whole week for their crossword fix but need to move to the next as soon as the brain has recovered from the extreme pressure put upon it by the puzzle just completed.
The book contains 100 puzzles; 85 of them are laughingly called 'plain', meaning that the clues are straightforward(!) cryptic ones. The remaining 15 puzzles are a variety of specials, in which a multitude of variations on the standard puzzle serve to make the solving of them more of a life's work than a cultural exercise.
Probably the greatest attraction of Azed is the absolute fairness of his clues. Difficult, often fiendishly so, but never an extraneous word or a departure from what are known as Ximenean Rules.
This book is truly a must for all Azed fans, in fact for anyone who wants to experience the cryptic crossword at its highest level.
The book contains 100 puzzles; 85 of them are laughingly called 'plain', meaning that the clues are straightforward(!) cryptic ones. The remaining 15 puzzles are a variety of specials, in which a multitude of variations on the standard puzzle serve to make the solving of them more of a life's work than a cultural exercise.
Probably the greatest attraction of Azed is the absolute fairness of his clues. Difficult, often fiendishly so, but never an extraneous word or a departure from what are known as Ximenean Rules.
This book is truly a must for all Azed fans, in fact for anyone who wants to experience the cryptic crossword at its highest level.
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