The eighteenth century saw an explosion of ‘riddlemania’, as word puzzles were widely printed in almanacs, magazines and books. Creating and solving ingenious puzzles was a popular pastime and some of the greatest wits of the day contributed to the golden age of enigmatography. The majority of the riddles set out in this book are anonymous, although others are based on the work of notable contributors listed below. In almost all cases I have rendered the language and style more accessible to the modern reader.
Preface: A Riddle
1. A letter
2. A telescope (Friedrich von Schiller, Dramatist and Poet)
3. Death
4. Jealousy
5. A candle
6. A coffin
7. Darkness
8. Fashion
9. Heart
10. An eye
11. The letter D
12. Moon
13. Scythe
14. A quill pen (Jonathan Swift, Satirist)
15. The gallows (Jonathan Swift, Satirist)
16. Tell-tale
17. Cherries
18. A dog
19. (1) Rue, (2) Sage, (3) Bay, (4) Laurel, (5) Pennyroyal, (6) Rosemary, (7) Savory, (8) Monkshood, (9) Marigold, (10) Thyme, (11) Mint, (12) Balm
20. The Planets
21. A dream
22. Fare-well (Charles James Fox, Statesman)
23. Inn sign
24. Ink (Jonathan Swift, Satirist)
25. A ribbon
26. Health
27. Ghost
28. River (Mrs A L Barbauld, poet and author)
29. Bed
30. Star
31. A name
32. Midwife
33. Because it blackens all it touches
34. Fire
35. A looking glass
36. Love
37. Blood
38. Time
39. Church bells
40. Brandy
41. Snow (Jonathan Swift, satirist)
42. Death-watch
43. Tomb stone
44. Footsteps
45. Pen-i-tent
46. A key
47. Friendship
48. The Devil
49. Sleep
50. A maypole