The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle
Regular price
$24.19 USD
Regular price
$40.32 USD
Sale price
$24.19 USD
Unit price
per
You save $16.13 USD (40%)
In stock — Ships within 1–2 business days
Format
Print Book
Currently viewing
Hardcover
$24.19 USD
$40.32 USD
Secure CheckoutYour data is protected
Fast U.S. ShippingShips within 1–2 business days
Authentic Titles100% Genuine Books
Book Overview "A surprising and ambitious investigation of language and the varied ways women resist the paradoxes of patriarchy both on and off the pa...
"A surprising and ambitious investigation of language and the varied ways women resist the paradoxes of patriarchy both on and off the page."--New York Times
Combining the soul-baring confessional of Brain on Fire and the addictive storytelling of The Queen's Gambit, a renowned puzzle creator's compulsively readable memoir about anorexia and language, and history of the crossword puzzle as an unexpected site of women's work and feminist protest.
The indisputable "queen of crosswords," Anna Shechtman published her first New York Times puzzle at age nineteen, and later, helped to spearhead the The New Yorker's popular crossword section. Working with a medium often criticized as exclusionary, elitist, and out-of-touch, Anna is one of very few women in the field of puzzle making, where she strives to make the everyday diversion more diverse.
In this fascinating work of literary nonfiction--part memoir, part cultural analysis--she excavates the hidden history of the crossword and the overlooked women who have been central to its creation and evolution, from the "Crossword Craze" of the 1920s to the role of digital technology today. As she tells the story of her own experience in the CrossWorld, she analyzes the roles assigned to women in American culture, the boxes they've been allowed to fill, and the ways that they've used puzzles to negotiate the constraints and play of desire under patriarchy.
The result is an unforgettable and engrossing work of art, a loving and revealing homage to one of our most treasured, entertaining, and ultimately political pastimes.
The Riddles of the Sphinx untangles the knot of language, power, and identity to reveal:
- Crossword Puzzle History: The overlooked women who shaped the American crossword, from the 1920s 'Crossword Craze' to the digital age, and have been central to its creation and evolution.
- Psychoanalysis and Language: A sharp exploration of the surprising connections between anorexia, Freudian analysis, and the relentless act of tearing language apart and piecing it back together.
- Feminist Protest: How women have used word games and puzzles as an unexpected site of resistance against the constraints and paradoxes of patriarchy.
- Memoir and Cultural History: A deeply personal journey into the CrossWorld, where the author's own story becomes a lens to analyze the roles assigned to women in American culture.
Book Details Format: Hardcover | Pages: 271 | Language: English | Publisher: HARPER ONE | ISBN: 0063275473
FormatHardcover
Pages271
LanguageEnglish
ISBN0063275473
EAN9780063275478
PublisherHARPER ONE
Publication Date2024-03-05
AccessoriesNo Accessory
ConditionNew
Product TypeHARD COVER BOOKS
Weight0.9 Pounds
Length9.1 Inches
Width6.0 Inches
Height1.1 Inches
Shipping & Returns Fast, reliable shipping and easy returns on eligible items.
Most orders ship within 1–2 business days with fast, reliable U.S. delivery.
Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in line with our store return policy.
Why shop with AlbakiReads
Fresh Inventory from Major Publishers
Sourced through trusted book distributors, with fresh titles added regularly.
Secure Checkout
Your payment information is encrypted and protected every step of the way.
Fast U.S. Shipping
Most orders ship within 1–2 business days.
Books for Every Kind of Reader
From page-turners to timeless classics—find your next favorite read.
