- Paperback: 123 pages
- Publisher: Pan Books (6 May 1994)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 033033655X
- ISBN-13: 978-0330336550
- Product Dimensions: 16.8 x 11 x 1.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 733,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
This guide shows how anyone can become a cryptic-crossword expert, covering all aspects of cryptic clues, from anagrams and homophones to synonyms. It also includes explanatory articles, sample clues, and cryptic-crossword analysis.
Book Description
If you've ever looked at cryptic crossword clues and wondered how anyone even begins to solve them, then here is your answer. This easy to follow fun guide shows how anyone can learn the logic behind these puzzles and become cryptically expert. It covers all aspects of cryptic clues, from anagrams and homophones to synonyms, and includes explanatory articles, sample clues and some simple practice crosswords, with full analysis of the solutions. Crosswords are an endless source of entertainment and a wonderful way of exercising the mind. Learn how to tackle a cryptic crossword - and join the hundreds of thousands of people who are already addicted!
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
62 of 63 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have been doing quick crosswords for years and although I was beginning to find them a bit simple I had always thought the cryptic ones too daunting, and all my previous attempts to learn had failed in confusion and disillusionment... but I decided to give them another go, using this book to start. What i really appreciated is that she weans you from quick crosswords onto the different sorts of cryptic clues one at a time, so that you can use the skills you already have to build on, and to verify your own progress. This book was really helpful and suited perfectly to someone who enjoys quick crosswords already, as you can enjoy the achievement of the example crosswords using many of the skills you already have, rather than spending ages staring at the page getting baffled and dissillusioned without really knowing where to start(which had been my previous experience of trying to learn cryptic technique.) An excellent gap-bridger.
Lots of example crosswords too, (30 altogether) and all with well explained answers in the back (an absolute must to have the explanation as well as the answer to every single clue if you're trying to learn, by the way- something to look out for!) It also contains a few "word banks" of commonly occuring oddities peculiar to cryptic crossword solving- again, worth looking out for in other books.
Lots of example crosswords too, (30 altogether) and all with well explained answers in the back (an absolute must to have the explanation as well as the answer to every single clue if you're trying to learn, by the way- something to look out for!) It also contains a few "word banks" of commonly occuring oddities peculiar to cryptic crossword solving- again, worth looking out for in other books.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent introduction for the novice on how to solve cryptic crosswords. Obviously geared towards the (supposedly easier) Daily Telegraph cryptic crossword, this book will take the beginner to - well, if not an expert, at least in with a fighting chance. Before reading this book I hardly got anywhere with crosswords; now I finish the very occasional one.
The first section explains all the different types of clue, with examples and a crossword containing several examples of that type of clue, all flagged. It then gives tips on approaches to solving, a reference of all the abbreviations and special indicators you're likely to find. There are also several crosswords for you to try.
It would have been superb at twice the price, but this is superb value. Writing this review has convinced me I should reread it.
The first section explains all the different types of clue, with examples and a crossword containing several examples of that type of clue, all flagged. It then gives tips on approaches to solving, a reference of all the abbreviations and special indicators you're likely to find. There are also several crosswords for you to try.
It would have been superb at twice the price, but this is superb value. Writing this review has convinced me I should reread it.
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is an introduction to completing cryptic crosswords, with special reference to the Daily Telegraph's (one of the more tractable). All the different types of clue are explained and illustrated, and there are special crosswords for you to practise on, where the types of clue are flagged. As ever, I'd have liked more examples, and more on the approach to take when tackling a crossword, and as yet I still haven't managed more than half a crossword - but that's more than a couple of weeks ago...it's a bargain.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Update on my previous review
On receiving this excellent book I was a tiny bit critical of some minor point.
I completely refute/withdraw that criticism. Read more
I completely refute/withdraw that criticism. Read more
Published 1 month ago by J Stephen Helliwell
Good start for a novice
I got completely absorbed into this and now I feel much better equipped to tackle the cryptics! It would be useful if there was a glossary of terms, as I did not know some of the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by TUDELL
Does what it says on the tin
I have been trying to do cryptic crosswords for years, and have read two or three books on the subject. This one is easily the best. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Spikey
How to crack the cryptic crossword
This is an excellent training for the over 60's braincells and rewarding because it's so much easier when you know what to look for !
Published 17 months ago by drinkers
Ace if you want to begin solving cryptic crosswords
A few friends at work have a go each day at the times crossword and i was interested in how they came to the answers. so i bought this... and it's a brilliant book! Read more
Published on 9 July 2009 by megamarble
How to Crack the Cryptic Crossword (Daily Telegraph)
Very easy to follow, a great introduction to cryptic crosswords. Well worth it.
Be carefull - there are two editions of the same book
The "Daily Telegraph"... Read more
Be carefull - there are two editions of the same book
The "Daily Telegraph"... Read more
Published on 2 July 2009 by R. Whittle
Highly Recommend
My daughter & I took this book on holiday to learn how to crack the cryptic crossword. We enjoyed working our way through the lessons and both felt we understood the basics by the... Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2009 by Mrs. M. Wilson
How to crack the cryptic crossword for the novice
The "Daily Telegraph" How to Crack a Cryptic Crossword
Very well laid out and presented book. Read more
Very well laid out and presented book. Read more
Published on 6 April 2009 by H. Nash
Excellent for cryptic crossword 'training'
I got this book for my wife who is an avid Telegraph crossworder so this is very much her review!
A great book. Read more
A great book. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2009 by Mr. Jon Forster
Shining a little light in the darkness
Bored with the quick crosswords, I tried to fathom the cryptics. Oh dear. This book and to a lesser extent the similar book by Kevin Skinner have helped open up this fascinating... Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2008 by dyfthegog
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