BRIEF HISTORY OF PUZZLES: Baffling Brainteasers

120 puzzles from the Sphinx and ancient riddles to modern Sudoku with chapters including A Primeval Puzzle Prelude, Medieval Maths, Mysteries and Merriment, Parisian Perplexities, The Great Victorian Puzzlers, Word Puzzles, Logic, Weights, Measures and Speed, Psychological Puzzles and more. The idea of a hero being prepared to risk his life on his ability to solve riddles has been very powerful throughout history and literature - think The Hobbit - and another potentially fatal riddle format is seen in the plot of Puccini's opera Turandot, where the icy princess of the title sets her suitors three riddles in a thoroughly sadistic game. A mind-bending history written by the off-beat Beachcomber columnist for the Daily Express with his customary wit and obvious joy in discovery. 152pp, illus.