Items related to Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem
Synopsis
In 1934, The Observer’s crossword writer, Edward Powys Mathers, wrote a unique novel Cain’s Jawbone. The title, referring to the first recorded murder weapon, was written under his pen name Torquemada. The story was not only a murder mystery but one of the hardest and most beguiling word puzzles ever published.
The 100 pages of the book were printed and bound out of order and the reader was invited to re-order the pages, solve the mysteries and reveal the murderer(s). There were over 32 million possible combinations of pages but only one order was correct. The puzzle was extremely difficult and was only solved by two puzzlers whose names were revealed in The Observer - but the solution to the problem remained a secret.
The Laurence Sterne Trust is interested in all literary works that challenge the idea of linear narrative (BS Johnson, Marc Saporta, Julio Cortázar &c) in line with Laurence Sterne’s legacy, so the Trust responded with a mixture of surprise and delight when The Torquemada Puzzle Book was donated to the museum’s contemporary collection, even though the solution was missing. Now, after many months of research and good fortune, the Trust has managed to unlock the secret of Cain’s Jawbone.
To share the complexities, red-herrings and literary adventures hidden in the puzzle, Unbound are republishing the book in a custom-made box so that readers can physically reorder the pages for themselves and then get down to identifying the characters behind the fiendish crimes.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Edward Powys Mathers’s (1892 – 1939) introduced the cryptic crossword to Britain in 1924 through the pages of the Observer. Known as Torquemada, he was acknowledged as a brilliant translator and a critic specialising in crime fiction. In 1934 he published a selection of his puzzles under the title The Torquemada Puzzle Book – the final 100 pages of which contained the novel-cum-puzzle Cain’s Jawbone.
The book is being re-issued with the assistance of The Laurence Sterne Trust and Patrick Wildgust, the curator of Shandy Hall.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherUnbound
- Publication date2019
- ISBN 10 1783527412
- ISBN 13 9781783527410
- BindingPaperback
- LanguageEnglish
- Rating
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Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR010385390
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Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem
Seller: BooksRun, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.
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Paperback. Condition: Fair. Ship within 24hrs. Satisfaction 100% guaranteed. APO/FPO addresses supported. Seller Inventory # 1783527412-7-1
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Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
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Condition: Good. Good condition. This is the average used book, that has all pages or leaves present, but may include writing. Book may be ex-library with stamps and stickers. 1.76. Seller Inventory # 353-1783527412-gdd
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Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem
Seller: GF Books, Inc., Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Book is in Used-VeryGood condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain very limited notes and highlighting. 1.76. Seller Inventory # 1783527412-2-3
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Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem
Seller: HPB-Ruby, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
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paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_425398032
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Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9781783527410
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Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
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Condition: Very Good. Very Good condition. Shows only minor signs of wear, and very minimal markings inside (if any). 1.76. Seller Inventory # 353-1783527412-vrg
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Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9781783527410
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Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem
Seller: Alpha 2 Omega Books BA, Southampton, HANTS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Near fine condition. Unbound, 2019. Boxset includes: Book, 100 unbound individual pages printed. First edition of this new edition. Paperback and unbound printed pages ( a couple of small nicks on the edges of the unbound printed pages) in near fine condition, with a boxset (small tear on the edges of the boxset, a couple of small nicks on the edges of the boxset) in near fine condition. Nice and clean completed set. 114pp including A note on the Author. A collectable and out of print boxset. This is another paragraph Book Description: In 1934, the Observer s cryptic crossword compiler, Edward Powys Mathers (aka Torquemada), released a novel that was simultaneously a murder mystery and the most fiendishly difficult literary puzzle ever written. The pages have been printed in an entirely haphazard order, but it is possible through logic and intelligent reading to sort the pages into the only correct order, revealing six murder victims and their respective murderers. Only two puzzlers have ever solved the mystery of Cain s Jawbone: do you have what it takes to join their ranks? Please note: this puzzle is extremely difficult and not for the faint-hearted. Seller Inventory # 12345
Quantity: 1 available
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Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem- 100 numbered cards with a booklet in a box
Seller: Jason Hibbitt- Treasured Books UK- IOBA, Oxford, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. A murder mystery and one of the most fiendishly difficult literary puzzles ever written. - First printed in 1934, this version is the 2019 unbound edition that became popular during the lockdown - This item contains 100 individual cards, each representing one page of a murder mystery book. However, these pages have been printed in an entirely haphazard order, and the task is to assemble them in the correct order- difficult and not for the feint hearted! - The cards are a complete set with all 100 present and are in very good condition overall. Number 100 has a crease running along the bottom part, and there have been some pencil marks put on a few other cards, but I have erased these. - The booklet accompanying the cards is in fine condition. - The case housing the cards and booklet is in very good condition overall. Dents to some of the outside corners, and some light surface marking, but otherwise very good. Seller Inventory # ABE-1715595746505
Quantity: 1 available