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 clue work and shows how to spot the tricks of the compiler's trade. It also includes practice puzzles and handy lists of words and abbreviations that setters commonly use as their cryptic building blocks.
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"'Indispensable. All you ever wanted to know about crosswords but were afraid to ask.' Francis Wheen 'A gentle and comprehensive introduction to the seductive and witty world of the crossword puzzle. Hugh Stephenson's book is an ideal guide.' Simon Russell Beale 'The ideal present for your non-cryptic-crossword-solving friends. If this doesn't work, nothing will.' John Graham, aka Araucaria"
About the Author
Hugh Stephenson is the Guardian's crossword editor.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Emil 22
I think the other review is a little mean-spirited!
This is a very good book to get you started on how to solve the Guardian crossword; it explains things clearly and in nicely paced stages, ratcheting up the difficulty in such a way that you feel that you're making progress without getting left behind.
So, all in all, it does exactly what its sub-heading sets out to do!
This is a very good book to get you started on how to solve the Guardian crossword; it explains things clearly and in nicely paced stages, ratcheting up the difficulty in such a way that you feel that you're making progress without getting left behind.
So, all in all, it does exactly what its sub-heading sets out to do!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
This book is written by the Guardian's Crossword Editor, who is not a crossword compiler, so sees things more from the solver's point of view. It's written in a more entertaining style than some 'how to solve' books, and has helpful guidance for beginners, both clue analysis and tips about solving techniques, and does well at showing that the knowledge you need is "wide but shallow". It slips up on one or two technicalities such as the meaning of "&lit" - as used in this book, this includes true &lits and another clue-type, normally called "cryptic definition". The text includes groups of practice clues, and at the end of the book there are 14 sample puzzles with some letters in the grid to start you off, and (equally important) explanations of the answers as well as the solutions.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By David Travis
This book is a good general introduction to cryptic crosswords. As well as describing the main types of clue and how to solve them, the book also includes some (partially completed) Guardian crosswords to help you practice. Although I'd recommend this book, since buying it I've read Tim Moorey's book How to Master The Times Crossword, which I think is a lot better.
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