Crossword Proper Name Finder [Paperback]

John C. Plankinton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

The Back Cover of CROSSWORD PROPER NAME FINDER carries several items to help the prospective buyer to learn more about this book.

First is a endorsement by Mr. Will Shortz, CROSSWORD EDITOR, THE NEW YORK TIMES. Will writes: "Easily the largest collection of celebrity names--both first and last--ever compiled. A highly useful tool for the crossword puzzler and anyone who's interested in names."

Second a description: This book was created to enable crossword puzzle solvers to have a single-volume source in which to find most of the many,many proper names from any and all walks of life that are used by puzzle constructors.

The book has 73,000 line entries. A main dictionary section has 51,000-plus entries with more than half entered as Surname, FORENAME and the balance as Forename SURNAME. (These latter Forename SURNAME entries are, of course, double entries)

Third: Experienced puzzlers will use this book more often than an ordinary crossword dictionary.

About the Author

John C. Plankinton is a long retired paper company executive. He lives in San Francisco, where over the past several years he has made compiling this dictionary his full time job-hobby. This specialized crossword dictionary is his only publication.

Product Details

• Paperback: 732 pages
• Publisher: Creative Arts Book Company (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887393187
• ISBN-13: 978-0887393181
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,771,803 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book lives up to its name, August 4, 2001

By 

"frejac3" (Pontiac, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crossword Proper Name Finder (Paperback)

I've used this book heavily since I've bought it, and it has come through with the correct answer 95% of the time. If you do crosswords, this book is a MUST BUY. It is already one of the top reference books in my collection for doing crosswords. Fred Jackson

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Gift for Crossword Solvers and Constructors, October 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Crossword Proper Name Finder (Paperback)

A huge amount of clues in puzzles today are made from proper names. The problem for most solvers is how to find them. Unless you are blessed with total recall, you need this book. The name may suggest that this book contains only the names of celebrities. In fact, this book contains the proper names of awards, books, movies -- even rivers! Each carefully categorized to make it easy to use. For puzzles constructors, this book offers you an alternative to the usual dictionaries and thesaurus' that are so often used in construction. You'll quickly and easily find new and interesting clues that will keep your fans coming back for more. This a must-have book for anyone who loves crosswords and other pencil puzzles.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Namely, a great book across the words, August 17, 2006

By 

imu ilu "143" (the world of hope) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crossword Proper Name Finder (Paperback)

Somewhere I read a review that said this was the crossword book one was most likely to use. I scoffed at that, as I have some robust crossword answer books, but do you know, that review may have been right? (Bit of info--I've solved all the NY Times daily crosswords for the past 15 years or so.) BTW--This also has an add-on section listing rivers and what river flows into what other rivers, as well as persons and info re them (Ringo Starr was in a Caveman movie, had a hit song, and his birth name), as well as "products", which are movies, songs, etc., with the person they are associated with. Note--the stuff after the "BTW" is just extra to the name listing, as the name listing is the key to this, but the extras are nice too. I hope someone is updating this, since it's about 6 years old and thus knows nothing about "Lindsay Lohan", etc.