On December 21, 2013, the crossword will turn 100 - and Cluetopia will toast the occasion, as well as whiz you through a century of language. Diving into archives, David Astle handpicks a crossword clue per year, from scores of different periodicals, weaving a mini-chapter around each selection. The clues will possess some strange quality, or help unlock a story, a quirk in language or a touchstone of a lost time. With his trademark mix of personal story, and history of language, and 100 mini puzzles cleverly disguised as chapters, Cluetopia is not just a book for cryptic heads. In fact, most of the clues are orthodox, sourced from dozens of dusty gazettes around the country - and the world - with the book's central joy being the evolution of language and fashion, ethics and politics, society and sensibility. Add anecdotes from David's life and a bit of puzzling history and you have a book every bit as interesting as Puzzled and even more fun.

Author Biography

David Astle has written two novels, Marzipan Plan and Book of Miles, plus three non-fiction works: Puzzled, One Down, One Missing and Offbeat Australia. Between books, he drives the world to delight and despair as Friday's crossword setter, DA, appearing in both The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.