The Enigma Of Kit Williams Masquerade: Decoding The Legendary Treasure Hunt

Nov 18, 2024 · 17 min read

Hadwin Maverick

Editorial and Creative Lead

The Enigma Of Kit Williams Masquerade: Decoding The Legendary Treasure Hunt

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In the literary world, few stories have captured the imagination and sparked curiosity quite like "Masquerade" by Kit Williams. Released in 1979, this isn't just a children's book; it's an elaborately woven puzzle, a treasure hunt that led to one of the most thrilling real-world treasure quests of the 20th century. Here, we delve deep into the enigma that is "Masquerade," exploring its creation, the intricacies of the hunt, and the stories that unfolded as seekers tried to solve this unique literary riddle.

🎨 The Creation of Masquerade

Kit Williams, an artist known for his precise and intricate watercolour illustrations, came up with an idea that would forever change his career. He proposed a book to his publishers where the narrative would not only entertain but also challenge the reader with a treasure hunt, hiding a real golden hare that could be found through clues within the book.

The Book's Concept: Williams designed the story around an elaborate quest involving celestial movement and romantic folklore. The book told the tale of a hare's journey to deliver a gift to his beloved. Each page was filled with hidden clues, intricate drawings, and puzzles, all of which were keys to discovering where the actual golden hare, adorned with precious jewels, was buried.

Publication and the Hunt Begins: "Masquerade" was published in August 1979, and almost immediately, the UK went hunt-mad. Thousands bought the book, pored over the pages, and started their treasure hunt across the countryside, following enigmatic lines like "Catherine's long finger points to the earth."

🪙 The Intrigue of the Real Treasure

The Hidden Hare: Not just a fictional element, the golden hare was real, crafted by Williams himself. It was cast in eighteen-karat gold, weighed 13 inches in length, and was inlaid with precious gems. This wasn't a mere trinket but a substantial prize, leading to fervent treasure-hunting activities.

The Hunt Spreads: The quest for the hare wasn't confined to Britain; it became an international phenomenon, with treasure hunters from around the globe joining in the search. The book's clues were cryptic, involving astronomical alignments, literary puzzles, and physical geography.

📜 Decoding the Clues

Puzzle Elements: The book's illustrations were key. Each page contained not just a story but also visual puzzles:

Paintings as Clues: Characters within the illustrations like Isaac Newton, John Brown, or Sir Francis Drake could point the way or hide part of a clue.
Celestial Clues: Williams incorporated the movement of celestial bodies, particularly the Sun and Moon, into his riddles.
Moon Phases: The phases of the moon, appearing in the illustrations, were crucial in pinpointing the treasure's burial location.

The Quest's Complexity: Solving "Masquerade" was no ordinary puzzle. Here are some of the notable riddles:

The Earth's point: Readers had to interpret where "Catherine's long finger points to the earth," leading to the interpretation of directions from earthworks in the UK.
Shadow and Sunlight: On page 8, sunlight through a fictitious (or so it seemed) painting's window cast a shadow that, when aligned, would reveal a landmark.
Poetry for Coordinates: The accompanying poem in the book contained anagrams and clever wordplay to decode precise geographical locations.

⏳ The Time and the Treasure

The passage of time was essential in deciphering the clues. The sun's movement and the moon's phases from the day of publication to a specific date when the clues would line up perfectly.

Important Note: "⏳ The clues were designed to unfold over time, making the hunt a dynamic event tied to celestial events."

🔍 The Solve: Fact and Fiction

The 1982 Dig: After three years of speculation, puzzle-solving, and much digging, a man named Ken and his partner Ro made headlines. They claimed to have solved the riddle, leading them to Ampthill Park, Bedfordshire, where they unearthed the jeweled hare on May 8, 1982.

The Controversy: However, the victory was short-lived as it was later revealed that the winners had not solved the puzzle at all. They were indirectly given the hare's location by someone who had illegally unearthed it two years prior. This revelation cast a shadow over the treasure hunt, turning it from a story of intellectual triumph to one of deceit.

🗝️ The Aftermath

Legal and Moral Dilemmas: The treasure hunt's conclusion was marred by legal battles and moral questions. Williams was devastated by the news, and the sense of adventure was tainted.

Impact on Kit Williams: The aftermath, including the revelation of the hare's theft, had a profound impact on Williams, who distanced himself from further treasure hunt involvements.

The Legacy: Despite the controversy, "Masquerade" left an indelible mark on both literature and popular culture. It inspired other treasure hunts, books, and even a renewed interest in cryptography and puzzle-solving.

📚 Masquerade's Influence and Legacy

Literary Treasure Hunts: The genre of puzzle books and real treasure hunts was born, leading to creations like "The Secret" by Byron Preiss, which embedded clues in a series of paintings across North America.

Cultural Impact: The story of "Masquerade" has been recounted in documentaries, books, and even films, keeping the tale alive as a captivating piece of literary folklore.

Techniques and Puzzles: The book's puzzles became a study case for enthusiasts of ciphers, literary puzzles, and treasure hunts, influencing many modern puzzle-makers.

Collecting Craze: First editions of "Masquerade" have become collectors' items, with the controversy only adding to their intrigue and value.

As the legend of "Masquerade" continues to intrigue generations, it remains a unique blend of art, literature, and real-world adventure, a testament to the power of puzzles and the human spirit's drive to solve them.

Over time, the enigma of Kit Williams' "Masquerade" has morphed into a legend, not just for the ingenuity of the puzzle or the controversy surrounding its solution, but for the very idea that books can transcend their pages and physically change our world. This treasure hunt connected people across the globe in a shared pursuit of adventure, demonstrating the universal appeal of a good story, coupled with the allure of a tangible prize.

The story of "Masquerade" has inspired countless others to dream up similar puzzles, and its legacy has ensured that the thrill of the hunt remains alive, even if the golden hare itself now lies quietly in the hands of its current owner. Despite the imperfections of its conclusion, "Masquerade" continues to captivate minds, proving that some mysteries are timeless.

And so, the tale of Kit Williams' "Masquerade" endures, an enigma wrapped in a puzzle, delivered through a beautifully illustrated book, and cherished not just for what was found, but for the journey it promised and the memories it left behind.

<div class="faq-section"> <div class="faq-container"> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>What inspired Kit Williams to create Masquerade?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Kit Williams was inspired by his love for puzzles, art, and a desire to create an interactive book that engaged readers in a real-world treasure hunt. He wanted to blend his artistic skills with an adventurous narrative that would captivate the public's imagination.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>How did people solve the puzzle in Masquerade?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Many people solved the puzzle by carefully analyzing the book's illustrations and text for hidden clues, which often involved astronomical alignments, complex wordplay, and anagrams. However, the hare was actually found through a tip rather than the solving of these clues, leading to controversy.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Was the Masquerade treasure hunt a success?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>The hunt was a cultural phenomenon, but its success was tarnished by the revelation that the treasure was found due to illegal means rather than solving the puzzles, which led to legal disputes and a tarnished legacy for the book.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>What happened to the golden hare after it was found?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>After being found, the golden hare went through several owners due to legal battles. Today, its whereabouts are known, but it no longer embodies the same mystique of the hunt, now being a symbol of both triumph and controversy.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Are there similar treasure hunt books today?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Yes, "Masquerade" inspired a wave of treasure hunt books like "The Secret" by Byron Preiss and many others that incorporate real treasure hunts as part of their narrative, keeping alive the legacy of Williams' innovative idea.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>