Book, Hardcover Adrienne Raphel Published in: 2020 Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group Language: EnglishThis cultural and personal history of crosswords and their fans, written by an aficionado, is diverting, informative, and discursive.The New York Times Book Review, EditorsChoice A delightful, erudite, and immersive exploration of the crossword puzzle and its fascinating history Almost as soon as it appeared, the crossword puzzle became indispensable to our lives. Invented practically by accident in 1913, when a newspaper editor at the New York World was casting around for something to fill empty column space, it became a roaring commercial success almost overnight. Ever since then, the humble puzzle has been an essential ingredient of any newspaper worth its salt. But why, exactly, are the crosswords satisfactions so sweet? Blending first-person reporting from the world of crosswords with a delightful telling of its rich literary history, Adrienne Raphel dives into the secre