Edward Powys Mathers

Edward Powys Mathers (1892-1939) was an English translator, poet, and puzzle creator who worked under the pen name Torquemada. He served as the cryptic crossword setter for The Observer newspaper from 1926 until his death, helping establish many of the conventions used in British cryptic crosswords. Mathers gained recognition for his translations of Eastern literature, particularly his work on The Thousand Nights and One Night (also known as The Arabian Nights) and various translations of Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit poetry. His translation approach emphasized maintaining the original works' sensual and exotic elements. His most enigmatic creation was Cain's Jawbone, published in 1934, a murder mystery puzzle book that required readers to rearrange 100 pages into the correct order to solve six murders. The puzzle was so complex that only two people are known to have solved it during Mathers' lifetime. Beyond his literary pursuits, Mathers was a founding member of the Detection Club, an organization of British mystery writers that included notable authors such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. His contributions to puzzle-making and cryptic crosswords influenced generations of subsequent creators in these fields.

Readers mainly discuss Mathers in the context of Cain's Jawbone, with limited reviews of his translations. The puzzle book draws intense reader engagement on platforms like Reddit and Goodreads, where readers share solution attempts and frustrations. What readers liked: - The innovative format and extreme difficulty level - The quality of the prose, which readers note stands alone as literature - His Arabian Nights translations preserve the original's sensual elements What readers disliked: - Lack of confirmation system for partial solutions - The physical book's binding makes page rearrangement difficult - Some find the difficulty level excessive and demotivating Ratings: Goodreads: Cain's Jawbone - 3.7/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon: Cain's Jawbone - 4.1/5 (500+ ratings) One reader noted: "The prose is beautiful even if you never solve it." Another complained: "No way to verify if you're on the right track - could spend months going in wrong direction." His translation work receives fewer reviews but maintains 4+ star averages on academic sites.

Cain's Jawbone (1934) A 100-page murder mystery puzzle where readers must rearrange the pages in correct order to solve six murders and identify both victims and killers.

Black Marigolds (1919) A translation of the Sanskrit love poem Caurapañcāśikā by Bilhana, presenting fifty stanzas about passionate romance.

Eastern Love (1927-30) A three-volume collection of translated Eastern love stories and poetry from various languages including Sanskrit and Arabic.

The Garden of Bright Waters: One Hundred and Twenty Asiatic Love Poems (1920) A compilation of translated love poems from various Eastern sources including Arabic, Persian, and Turkish texts.

The Thousand Nights and One Night (1923) A translation of selected tales from the Arabian Nights, maintaining the original's sensual and exotic elements.

First Poems (1918) A collection of Mathers' original poetry exploring themes of love and Eastern influences.

Gates of Damascus and Other Poems (1919) Original poetry collection incorporating Middle Eastern themes and imagery.

Jorge Luis Borges created intricate literary puzzles and labyrinths in his works, combining complex structures with philosophical themes. His stories share Mathers' love of puzzles and intellectual challenge through literature.

Georges Perec wrote novels with elaborate constraints and puzzles, including "Life A User's Manual" which features interconnected narratives and mysteries. His experimental approach to structure mirrors Mathers' puzzle-based storytelling.

Umberto Eco constructed complex mystery narratives filled with historical and literary references, particularly in "The Name of the Rose." His work combines scholarly knowledge with puzzle-like narratives in ways similar to Mathers.

Dorothy L. Sayers crafted intricate detective stories while being a fellow member of the Detection Club with Mathers. Her mysteries feature complex puzzles and intellectual challenges that would appeal to fans of Mathers' work.

Ernest Vincent Wright wrote "Gadsby," a novel-length lipogram that demonstrates extreme literary constraint similar to Mathers' experimental work. His focus on formal constraints and puzzle-like writing connects directly to Mathers' approach to literature.