Masquerade: The Complete Book with the Answer Explained [Paperback]

Kit Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 10, 1993

In paperback, the book that touched off the treasure hunt of the century-with a full explanation of the Masquerade Riddle.

For three years, treasure-seekers from both sides of the Atlantic sought a fabulous golden hare buried by artist Kit Williams. Williams had devised an unusual guide to the hare's whereabouts: a multilayered riddle that he told in a fairy tale of his own imagining, and presented in dazzling, cryptic, paintings.

When the hare was finally unearthed by a British engineer, many were left wanting to know exactly how the clues worked out. In this paperback reprint of Masquerade, the author supplies an illustrated preface that pulls the strings, finds the goal, and points to what's important: the village chemist's daughter, the atomic weight of the elements, the shadows of the equinox, Henry VIII's first wife. Williams explains how numbers and colors correspond to the intricate ballet, and how the eyes really do see the answer. And of course, here are the magical pages that tell the tale of Jack the hare, and his journey to the sun. They are still there to discover, ponder, rediscover. And understand at last.

Suitable for ages 7 and up. 73,000 copies in print.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kit Williams lives in a village in Gloucestershire, England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (January 10, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0894803697
• ISBN-13: 978-0894803697
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #924,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's too bad only this small book is available., April 18, 1999

By 

Edward J. Cunningham (Silver Spring, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Masquerade: The Complete Book with the Answer Explained (Paperback)

In 1979, British artist Kit Williams published a children's book with a great hook--if you solve the puzzle inside, you could find a buried treasure. The book sold in droves on both sides of the Atlantic, and treasure hunters flocked to England. Eventually, someone discovered the treasure without solving the main puzzle. Williams later published this version, which reproduces the original book, but also explains the answer to the main puzzle. But without a treasure to find, interest in the original book declined and it is now out of print.

Which is too bad, because Williams' lush paintings deserve to be seen in a large hardcover version, not the tiny paperback available now. Not only are the illustrations beautiful to look at, but they are filled with details that invite the eye to search for clues. The text is also filled with riddles that are fun to solve too. This is a book you'll want to read again and again, even if you can't solve the main riddle.

One last point--the recent book "The Merlin Mystery" tries to duplicate Masquerade's feat, but the illustrator is no Kit Williams. If you want to read other puzzle books like "Masquerade", I recommend "The Egyptian Jukebox" by Nick Bartcock and "The Eleventh Hour" by Graeme Base. Neither of these books, I should warn, hide any treasure however.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for kids!, December 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Masquerade: The Complete Book with the Answer Explained (Paperback)

Ever since first reading this book in my local library in 1980, I'd been itching to discover the location of the buried Masquerade jewel--not for the prize itself, which was found long ago, but for the sport of deciphering Kit Williams' paintings, which contained clues. Driven mad by the author's early assertion that it was "so simple, a ten year old could solve it," I worked at it periodically in the years that followed and finally caved in when I saw that amazon.com sold a version that contained the solution. I purchased the book merely to end my twenty years of suffering.

How close did I come to solving it? Not nearly as close as I would have liked--as an American, I have very little knowledge of England's geography (mandatory to solving the puzzle, despite the previous disclaimers). I did have part of the solution correct; I knew the letters that bordered each painting spelled out locations, but the method was not as simple as the author pretended. Needless to say, I feel much better now that I know this.

That having been said, let me conclude by stating that the story of Jack Hare's journey is enjoyable, the paintings are absolutely exquisite and the mystery is still intriguing, whether the jewel is still in the ground or not. I recommend it to anyone who loves puzzles--just be prepared to work hard at the solution; it's not easy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars kit williams and the golden hare........., October 17, 2001

By 

"berniegetz" (london england) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Masquerade: The Complete Book with the Answer Explained (Paperback)

masquerade caused a frenzy when first published in england. kit williams book was the first ever 'real' treasure hunt, with a 'real' prize buried somewhere in england. masquerade is no longer available, which is a shame, but, this little book not only covers the orignal story, but explains the answers to the puzzle of masquerade. this is a wonderful book for all ages to love and enjoy. buy it!!