10.20.13 — Dissolution — the Acrostic



Sunday, October 20, 2013

Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
Edited by Will Shortz


This Sunday’s fine acrostic draws an philosophically interesting quotation from How to Live or A Life of Montaigne by Sarah Bakewell.



Ms. Bakewell’s new book, “How to Live” (Other Press), is a biography, but in the form of a delightful conversation across the centuries. The subtitle — “Or a Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer” — serves as an organizing principle. ~ The New York Times 

The quotation:  THE OBSERVER IS AS UNRELIABLE AS THE OBSERVED … TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD IS LIKE GRASPING A CLOUD OF GAS, OR A LIQUID, USING HANDS THAT ARE THEMSELVES MADE OF GAS OR WATER, SO THAT THEY DISSOLVE AS YOU CLOSE THEM.

The author’s name and the title of the work:  SARAH BAKEWELL, HOW TO LIVE

The defined words:


A. Beginning you may go back to (2 wds.), SQUARE ONE

B. Literally, “seeing for oneself”, AUTOPSY
C. Swedish turnip by another name, RUTABAGA
D. Written pledge that a thing is true, AFFIDAVIT
E. Walter White’s alter ego on “Breaking Bad”, HEISENBERG
F. Supplies for mall Santas, BEARDS
G. Keeping you coming back for more, ADDICTIVE
H. Disciplined way of getting your kicks?, KARATE
I. Hold spellbound, ENTHRALL
J. Counterclockwise, WIDDERSHINS
K. Hartford or New Haven historic district (2 wds.), ELM STREET
L. Scotland Yard inspector in Holmes tales, LE STRADE
M. Annual host team in the N.F.L.’s Thanksgiving Classic, LIONS
N. Nonstop freight trains, conspicuously talented people, HOTSHOTS
O. Knocked unconscious (2 wds.), OUT COLD
P. Aid in preventing leaks, WASHER
Q. Stem-to-stern, head-to-toe, THOROUGH
R. Protectors of dogs from cold and wet, OVERSHOES
S. Unseen for ages (hyph.), LONG-LOST
T. Bold, unblushing, IMMODEST
U. Without pinning things down, VAGUELY
V. Specialty of Michel de Montaigne, who is the biographic subject of this puzzle’s subject, ESSAYS


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Here’s some dude liquid dancing…



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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you Donald - without you (and my eagle-eyed publisher) I would never have discovered this fabulous thing. Very best wishes, Sarah Bakewell