The cross word puzzle book: Second series

In Short

This book is a curated anthology of fifty original crossword puzzles, compiled and edited at the height of the 1920s puzzle craze. More than just a game, it serves as a historical artifact of a time when the crossword transformed from a simple pastime into an American institution. By presenting these grids alongside instructional "do’s and don’ts," it offers a structured challenge for the mind. It has endured as a classic because it captures the specific, timeless satisfaction of solving a mystery through pattern, logic, and vocabulary.

The Story

The arc of the volume begins with the publishers establishing the context of the crossword phenomenon. They explain that the original book, published in April 1924, became an unexpected best-seller, sparking a national mania that saw the puzzles replace other fads like Mah Jong. This second series emerges as a direct response to that "irresistible fascination." The narrative voice throughout is that of an enthusiastic guide, positioning the reader not merely as a passive consumer of text, but as an active participant in a battle of wits.

The book moves through its fifty puzzles, each serving as an individual challenge within the larger journey. The journey is not linear in plot but in difficulty and style. The editors act as coaches, sharing tips on how to handle "long words" and the "trial and error method" required to fill the grids. They emphasize that the process is one of deduction; horizontal and vertical clues must constantly check one another. The puzzles themselves are presented with titles and occasional commentary, providing a sense of personality to each entry—some are described as "neat constructions," others as "staid forms," and some are even attributed to specific contributors with their own quirks and preferences in grid design.

As the reader progresses, the book reinforces the idea that the solve is a path toward mental improvement and emotional satisfaction. It suggests that once a person has tasted the pleasure of the puzzle, they will naturally be "loath to give our time to anything else." The progression concludes by framing the act of solving as a remedy for the "inferiority complex," offering the solver a tangible sense of accomplishment when the final square is filled. The book ends, essentially, where the solver begins: ready to take on the next grid. It does not provide a traditional resolution but rather a cycle of engagement. The "story" is the development of the solver’s own skill, moving from apprehension at the first blank square to the confidence earned by tracking down the last elusive definition. By the time the final puzzle is reached, the reader has transitioned from an initiate to a practitioner of the craft.

How It Unfolds

The cultural backdrop The editors set the stage by recounting how the crossword became a national obsession, detailing its rapid rise from a niche pastime to a best-selling phenomenon. They frame the book as the answer to a public that does not merely want the puzzles, but craves them.

The instructional foundation Before the puzzles begin, the editors provide a clear guide on the philosophy of the game. They advise the reader to remain calm, start with the most obvious clues, and treat the grid as a detective’s battleground.

The puzzle sequence The body of the book consists of fifty discrete challenges, each varying in complexity and design. The puzzles are introduced with lighthearted commentary, acknowledging the creators and the specific inspirations—like a kitchen floor or a lunch break—that led to their formation.

The pursuit of completion Each puzzle acts as a self-contained trial, where the solver must reconcile horizontal and vertical word entries. The reader moves through these grids, checking their work and navigating the "lurking terrors" of tricky definitions or unusual patterns.

The culmination of the craft The final section of the book celebrates the mastery of the solver. It frames the act of finishing as a "job well done," promising that the satisfaction of the solved grid is the ultimate reward for the time invested.

The People

The central figures are the editors—Prosper Buranelli, F. Gregory Hartswick, and Margaret Petherbridge—who serve as the architects of this intellectual play. They are the ones who want to initiate the reader into the "cross word business," guiding them through the history and the techniques of the craft. They want the reader to feel the same excitement they see in the "frenzied fans" who storm their offices.

Standing in the way of the reader is the grid itself, which presents a series of obstacles: definitions that range from simple to obscure, and interlocked words that demand logical consistency. The puzzle constructors, like Isidore Edelstein, Saul Berman, and the mysterious "Neophyte," also act as antagonists of a sort, creating designs that are occasionally "indecently naked" or intentionally tricky to keep the expert solver humble.

The reader, meanwhile, is the protagonist who begins the book as an amateur and grows into an "adventurous explorer." By the end, the reader is no longer intimidated by the blank white squares. They have shifted their relationship with language and logic, gaining the "supreme satisfaction of unravelling a real mystery." They finish the book as someone who has learned to value the process of tracking down words to their lairs, finding a unique peace in the struggle of the solve.

In Its Own Voice

Ordinary books are meant to be read. Here is a book in which one writes—more than that, a book in which one has the supreme satisfaction of unravelling a real mystery, tracking down clue after clue.

The publishers explain the fundamental difference between this collection and traditional literature, emphasizing the active role required of the solver.

Don’t get scared if you can’t guess the first horizontal word. Go through the list till you find a definition that you’re sure of.

This advice serves as the foundational strategy for any reader feeling overwhelmed by the empty grid at the start of a new puzzle.

A pleasant feeling of something attempted, something done, accompanies the solution of a cross word puzzle.

The authors capture the specific emotional payoff that motivates the reader to continue the cycle of solving from one puzzle to the next.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an exploration of the human desire for order. It argues that the world is chaotic and confusing, but the crossword offers a limited, manageable universe where every problem has a definite, correct solution. The themes touch upon the value of intellectual persistence—the idea that inspiration often waits for a "return engagement" if one sticks with a problem long enough. It questions how we occupy our leisure time, suggesting that the most rewarding pastimes are those that demand our full mental presence. Ultimately, it is a celebration of language as a puzzle, treating words not just as tools for communication, but as physical objects to be manipulated, fitted, and mastered within a rigid, logical framework.

Why Read It Today

Today, reading this book feels like stepping into a 1920s parlor. It is a time capsule that captures the frantic, playful energy of an era just discovering the crossword. You will love it if you enjoy the tactile, analog sensation of working through a problem with a pencil, feeling the "erosion of paper and temper" as you try and fail and try again. It is not a book for the person who wants instant gratification; it is for someone who finds peace in the slow, steady act of deduction.

Be aware that the book is very much of its time. The definitions and cultural references are deeply rooted in the mid-1920s; you will encounter archaic terms and period-specific attitudes toward race and geography that reflect the common parlance of 1924. If you approach it as a historical document, you will find it fascinating. The difficulty is not in the modern, internet-searchable sense, but in the specific vocabulary and clever, wordplay-heavy style that was popular a century ago. It remains a uniquely satisfying read because the fundamental act of solving—the "trial and error method"—remains just as effective and rewarding today as it was when these editors first invited the world to start tracking words to their lairs.