Cluetopia: The Story of 100 Years of the Crossword

On December 21, 2013, the crossword will turn 100 - and Cluetopia will toast the occasion, as well as whiz you through a century of language. Diving into archives, David Astle handpicks a crossword clue per year, from scores of different periodicals, weaving a mini-chapter around each selection. The clues will possess some strange quality, or help unlock a story, a quirk in language or a touchstone of a lost time. With his trademark mix of personal story, and history of language, and 100 mini puzzles cleverly disguised as chapters, Cluetopia is not just a book for cryptic heads. In fact, most of the clues are orthodox, sourced from dozens of dusty gazettes around the country - and the world - with the book's central joy being the evolution of language and fashion, ethics and politics, society and sensibility. Add anecdotes from David's life and a bit of puzzling history and you have a book every bit as interesting as Puzzled and even more fun.