Decoding Cryptic Crosswords: A Step-by-step Guide

Ged O'Connell

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1906221693 ISBN 13: 9781906221690

Publisher: Matador, 2007

For many people cryptic crosswords appear overwhelming and just reading through the clues can seem like reading a foreign language. This book contains information on general solving strategies and reference tools, as well as a chapter on finding suitable cryptic crosswords for your level.

Synopsis:

For many people cryptic crosswords appear overwhelming and just reading through the clues can seem like reading a foreign language. However, just as a foreign language can be learned, so too can solving cryptic crosswords. In order to make learning how to recognise, understand and ultimately solve cryptic clues as easy as possible, the book categorises them, beginning with the easiest clues to understand and progressing to more complicated examples. The book also contains information on general solving strategies and reference tools, as well as a chapter on finding suitable cryptic crosswords for your level. Every exercise in each chapter of the book is a puzzle in itself, but the graded, step-bystep learning process makes it possible to solve each of these puzzles, and each completed exercise is a step towards the ultimate goal of being able to solve a cryptic crossword.

About the Author:

Ged O'Connell was born in Bradford and went to university inLeeds before becoming a teacher. He taught English in Spain, Egypt and Finland before moving to Japan over 20 years ago. He now teaches academic writing andcritical thinking at a university in Tokyo.