Cryptics by Boatman

Tweets by @BoatmanCryptics

If you can do a crossword puzzle, you can write a sonnet.

Welcome

I’ve had a lot of fun compiling cryptic crossword puzzles since 2001, first for 1 Across magazine and since 2008 for the Guardian. I hope you’ve enjoyed solving them, and will enjoy discovering more. I like to hear from my victims, so do keep in touch ...

Crossword Masterclasses

New for 2013, in the centenary of the crossword: do you have what it takes to be a professional setter?

1 Across

Magazine

Text Box: New to Boatman? Boatman crosswords are cryptic puzzles in the British tradition with a quirky sense of fun, which are intended to present a serious but not impossible challenge. They’re always themed, sometimes irreverent and possibly, just possibly, wise. You’ll find more thoughts and provocation here.

People saying nice things about Boatman

Text Box: Experience Boatman for yourself with a bespoke puzzle A completely personal, bespoke puzzle makes a wonderful gift to mark a birthday, anniversary or any other occasion … or just for fun.

Help is

at hand

What an absolute cracker of a puzzle … filled with gentle humour

A rich tapestry of delightful clues. One of the best puzzles I have had

the privilege to blog … a tour de force

Up there with the top dogs … WOW

This is why people like crosswords!

Boatman's puzzles ... inhabit their own world and even if I'm stumped

by the odd clue, I could merrily sit staring at his puzzles every day

Brilliant &Lits

This is the way a theme should be done

A really lovely puzzle—what initially looks like a manual on how to

build an alien spacecraft turns out to be deceptively simple

Shows his mastery of the multiple definition

Elegance personified

Totally brilliant

Delicious

Flawless as ever

Boatman is the B of my ABC of favourite setters

The hardest puzzle in this slot I can remember, and quite brilliant too

I think of Boatman as the Kandinsky of setting

There is only one god, and his name is Boatman

Fast becoming my favourite setter

Boatman now IS my favourite setter

Funny and audacious

Elegant

Fair clueing with a touch of humour

Crafty

Brilliant!

Clever and amusing

Wit and wisdom

Loved it!

An all-time favourite

High quality … ingenious

Wonderful … made me laugh out loud

Giddying stuff … merrily exceeding the sum of its parts

The very creative Boatman

Perfect clue … makes one believe

the word was coined to allow it

From the professionals

From Guardian readers and www.fifteensquared.net bloggers

From 1 Across subscribers around the world

KPH (Netherlands)

GT (UK)

JC (Switzerland)

EM (UK)

SJ (UK)

AJ (USA)

JP (UK)

HB (UK)

Dr SW (UK)

Hugh Stephenson (the Guardian)

Tom Johnson (the Spectator)

Alan Connor (the Guardian)

ShuchiU (Crossword Unclued)

Mr Magoo

Martin R

Uncle Yap

Stiofain

SvdH

bingybong

Mrpenney

aztobesed

Briggg

Smutchin

Lady W

Newnewname

SvdH

DavidinPenarth

bingybong

Briggg

Lowellander

BrigC

Twitter

Classes for

aspiring

compilers

Cryptics by

Boatman