"Extremely ingenious book, which abounds in problems that will keep the reader busy for hours--until in despair he turns to the answers at the end."--_Manchester Guardian._ "The setting of these perplexities is novel ... a dramatic background being thus provided which prevents too great aridity.... The book should be much in request."--_The Morning Leader._ THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES _By the same Author_ "AMUSEMENTS IN MATHEMATICS" 3s. 6d. * * * * * First Edition, 1907 THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES And Other Curious Problems by HENRY ERNEST DUDENEY Author of "Amusements in Mathematics," Etc. Second Edition (With Some Fuller Solutions and Additional Notes) Thomas Nelson and Sons, Ltd. London, Edinburgh, and New York 1919 CONTENTS PREFACE 9 INTRODUCTION 11 THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES 23 PUZZLING TIMES AT SOLVAMHALL CASTLE 58 THE MERRY MONKS OF RIDDLEWELL 68 THE STRANGE ESCAPE OF THE KING'S JESTER 78 THE SQUIRE'S CHRISTMAS PUZZLE PARTY 86 ADVENTURES OF THE PUZZLE CLUB 94 THE PROFESSOR'S PUZZLES 110 MISCELLANEOUS PUZZLES 118 SOLUTIONS 163 INDEX 251 PREFACE When preparing this new edition for the press, my first inclination was to withdraw a few puzzles that appeared to be of inferior interest, and to substitute others for them. But, on second thoughts, I decided to let the book stand in its original form and add extended solutions and some short notes to certain problems that have in the past involved me in correspondence with interested readers who desired additional information. I have also provided--what was clearly needed for reference--an index. The very nature and form of the book prevented any separation of the puzzles into classes, but a certain amount of classification will be found in the index. Thus, for example, if the reader has a predilection for problems with Moving Counters, or for Magic Squares, or for Combination and Group Puzzles, he will find that in the index these are brought together for his convenience. Though the problems are quite different, with the exception of just one or two little variations or extensions, from those in my book _Amusements in Mathematics_, each work being complete in itself, I have thought it would help the reader who happens to have both books before him if I made occasional references that would direct him to solutions and analyses in the later book calculated to elucidate matter in these pages. This course has also obviated the necessity of my repeating myself. For the sake of brevity, _Amusements in Mathematics_ is throughout referred to as _A. in M._ HENRY E. DUDENEY. THE AUTHORS' CLUB, _July 2, 1919._ INTRODUCTION