The cross word puzzle book: Second series

"The Cross Word Puzzle Book: Second Series" by Prosper Buranelli, F. Gregory Hartswick, and Margaret Petherbridge is a collection of crossword puzzles published in the early 20th century. This anthology features fifty new puzzles that were selected from thousands submitted to the New York World, showcasing the popularity of crossword puzzles during that period. The book aims to entice puzzle lovers with a range of difficulties, offering a keenly engaging way to enrich vocabulary and stimulate the mind. The opening of the anthology provides an engaging preface detailing the history of crossword puzzles and their rise to popularity, particularly following the success of the first volume. The publishers describe the transition of crossword puzzles from a mere fad to a beloved pastime, highlighting a competitive community that formed around them, including the establishment of a Crossword Puzzle Association. The foreword emphasizes the intellectual challenge and entertainment value of solving these puzzles, teasing the kinds of satisfaction readers can expect from their triumphant completion. Overall, the introduction sets the stage for the puzzles to come, inviting enthusiasts to dive into the joy of wordplay and deduction.