On April 18, 1924, the American publishing company Simon & Schuster released what would become the world's first crossword puzzle book. But the story of the crossword itself stretches back even further. A four-by-four word game appeared in an Italian publication in 1890, though the first modern crossword puzzle didn't arrive until 1912, when Arthur Wynne created the now-legendary first-ever crossword puzzle for the New York World newspaper.
Readers of the New York World couldn't get enough of the new word game, and rival newspapers took notice fast. It wasn't long before crossword puzzles started popping up in publications across the country. By the early 1920s, the phenomenon had become a genuine hit. Recognizing an opportunity to ride the wave of this growing obsession, Simon & Schuster decided to compile the puzzles into book form — and in doing so, they made publishing history.
The gamble paid off handsomely. Not only did the book prove to be a financially fruitful venture, but it also fueled the crossword craze in ways no one could have anticipated, helping to solidify the puzzle's popularity for decades to come. And here's the remarkable part — crossword puzzles are even more popular today than they were in the 1920s!