In December 1913, the New York World newspaper published the first crossword in history. It appeared in their Sunday supplement, “Fun.” A century later, this absorbing puzzle continues to attract (and infuriate) millions of devotees every day. But the world’s most popular—and seemingly mundane—pastime has a surprising history, filled with intrigue and adventure.
Paolo Bacilieri’sFUNtransports us from turn-of-the-century New York to present-day Milan, taking in stories of ingenious puzzle makers, ardent solvers, and intellectual luminaries. Part detective story, part docudrama, and interlaced with a fiction of Bacilieri’s own imagining,FUNquestions the crossword’s “harmless” status. Sure, it’s fun—but could it also be a form of resistance, of cryptic communication, of espionage?
Born in Verona in 1965,Paolo Bacilierigraduated from the Accademia di Belle Arti in Bologna. His comic book series includeNapoleoneandJan Dix.He lives in Milan.
"For Bacilieri, playing a crossword is clearly a literary act.
Funwill appeal to those who enjoy crossword puzzles and those who appreciate the history of games using word associations."
Library Journal"…it’s really the art here that will awe you, with luscious cityscapes and intricate renderings of New York City."
am New York“…a whimsical, enjoyable comic that lives up to its title.”
BookRiot“Italian artist Paolo Bacilieri delivers the fun, both narratively and visually. Also horizontally and vertically: forget strict linear structure, which is just ho-hum. This
Funis vigorous, spirited and assured in its graphic experimentation.”
Print Magazine
![FUN: Spies, Puzzle Solvers, and a Century of Crosswords [Hardcover]](/itemImage/2/1/1/9/2_103683.jpg "FUN: Spies, Puzzle Solvers, and a Century of Crosswords [Hardcover]")