Cryptic crosswords: A puzzling British obsession
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Are these the ultimate brain teasers? Norman Miller explores the appeal of cryptic crosswords – containing mind-bending clues that offer unique Eureka moments.
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Let s begin a playful language journey with a dip into the mind of John Halpern, whose brain-teasing puzzles grace the UK s top newspapers under various pseudonyms. Halpern tells me about the day he met his wife. When she told me her name, the first thing I thought was it s an anagram of entail – though I didn t tell her that! he reveals. Instead I asked where the name came from. She told me Armenia . Most normal people would immediately think: Interesting – tell me something about Armenia . Instead, my first thought was It s the word men inside the word aria . I see wordplay patterns in the street, on the bus, at parties.