What do you think?
Rate this book
MASQUERADE
Somewhere in Britain Jack Hare lost the Moon's gift to the sun. Solve the riddles, unravel the puzzles, and see if you can figure out where.
31 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
8 people are currently reading
1167 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 17, 2012
Certain books are just shot through with nostalgia, to the point where all you have to do is open them, and you're transported back to childhood. Masquerade is one of those books for me, I had the great luck to have been living on an RAF base in the UK when this came out, and my elementary school class fell immediately to solving it.
Obviously we were quite unsuccessful, but it was the first time that I'd ever felt any level of camaraderie when it came to my classmates actually reading with me. It was a magical time.
Looking at it from an adult's eyes did bring it down slightly from the wonder that was, to the book I hold in my hands, but it still makes me yearn to share it with a wide eyed little one. (Maybe I'll have grandchildren who actually want to be read to, unlike their parents!) The illustrations are as fine as I remembered, and it is kind of sad that the quest is over, but it's still a lovely book.
Obviously we were quite unsuccessful, but it was the first time that I'd ever felt any level of camaraderie when it came to my classmates actually reading with me. It was a magical time.
Looking at it from an adult's eyes did bring it down slightly from the wonder that was, to the book I hold in my hands, but it still makes me yearn to share it with a wide eyed little one. (Maybe I'll have grandchildren who actually want to be read to, unlike their parents!) The illustrations are as fine as I remembered, and it is kind of sad that the quest is over, but it's still a lovely book.
January 4, 2011
A fascinating little mystery. At the time of this book's publication, the entire world devoured it in hopes of uncovering the buried treasure - it took a few years and led to much controversy, as explained in Bamber Gascoigne's follow-up book Quest for the Golden Hare. (Although Wikipedia can elaborate on the much greater controversy that developed years later).
I'd suggest buying either Gascoigne's book, or the "Answers" edition of 'Masquerade', since otherwise you'll never figure out the answer to the puzzle. Seriously, only two people EVER figured out the answer, and it must be said there are so many red herrings that it's not surprising.
But regardless of the mystery (which of course, is null and void now, three decades later), the artwork is still delightful, and the hidden jewels throughout the pages are worth a look.
I'd suggest buying either Gascoigne's book, or the "Answers" edition of 'Masquerade', since otherwise you'll never figure out the answer to the puzzle. Seriously, only two people EVER figured out the answer, and it must be said there are so many red herrings that it's not surprising.
But regardless of the mystery (which of course, is null and void now, three decades later), the artwork is still delightful, and the hidden jewels throughout the pages are worth a look.
April 24, 2023
A hidden gem of a book - almost literally! Fascinating to read through the answers to the clues, layers upon layers neatly packaged in a children’s book. I spent many an hour pouring over the riddles and hints. Such an original idea, I highly recommend reading the answers to the hints if you want another experience of this book.
August 6, 2025
I can understand why this book was so popular back in the day. Apart from the story, good in itself, it is beautifully illustrated throughout. I also love the story behind this story and the fact the author had to go underground for a while because of the publicity around it. I only gave 4 stars because there is a bit too much going on. It would appeal to all ages but it took me all my time to find the hare on each page never mind attempt the riddles! And of course the ultimate treasure hunt to find the golden hare was pointless as that treasure was found years ago.
September 26, 2015
A beautifully designed puzzle on each page.jampacked with images that are incredibly mind boggling. Every time I looked at these pages I found a hidden jem, a secret within. It was such a pleasure to see something new. This was not the only book that Williams has created, thank goodness, but it was a real breakthrough in this type of artwork. It was so masterfully done, and vivid in its execution.
Many others have followed, but this is the first in this genre, to be accepted as puzzle artwork with an end game in mind. Kudos!
Many others have followed, but this is the first in this genre, to be accepted as puzzle artwork with an end game in mind. Kudos!
September 4, 2012
Seems like a million years ago that I bought this book when it first came out back in 1979. It was a very big deal and sold like hotcakes. The clues to the riddle are hidden in the gorgeous illustrations. I never figured it out. Somebody finally did and won some sort of fabulous prize. I will have to do a search to see if this book had any follow ups. I sure hope I still have it with all my old belongings. It's a real keeper.
June 12, 2007
the writing is entirely opaque, but i still give it five stars because the illustrations are so top-notch and the element of buried treasure (the book holds clues to a hidden jeweled hare that was found a year after the book was published) is fantastically engaging.
March 20, 2018
Wenn meine ReadingChallenge2018 nicht einen Publisher Weekly Bestseller aus dem Jahre 1981 vorsehen würde (da gibt es nur 10), hätte ich dieses Buch nie gelesen.
Allerdings ist es das Erste aus dem Genre Armchair Treasure Hunt und wer weiß, ob es heute Geocaching ohne dieses Buch gäbe. Gäbe es, schon klar. Dennoch fand ich es spannend die Menschheit auf eine Reise zu schicken.
Eine Reise, die in wirklich allen Ebenen der Geschichte gespickt ist mit Rätseln. Die Lösung des Buches haben nur zwei Menschen geschafft, dann wurde die Lösung vom Autor veröffentlicht. Aber es gibt noch andere Rätsel und eben die Geschichte ansich.
So kam es, dass ich mit unserer 2jährigen Tochter heute den Hasen auf allen Bildern suchte und abends mit meinem Mann Rätsel löste. Ist doch auch mal schön.
Allerdings ist es das Erste aus dem Genre Armchair Treasure Hunt und wer weiß, ob es heute Geocaching ohne dieses Buch gäbe. Gäbe es, schon klar. Dennoch fand ich es spannend die Menschheit auf eine Reise zu schicken.
Eine Reise, die in wirklich allen Ebenen der Geschichte gespickt ist mit Rätseln. Die Lösung des Buches haben nur zwei Menschen geschafft, dann wurde die Lösung vom Autor veröffentlicht. Aber es gibt noch andere Rätsel und eben die Geschichte ansich.
So kam es, dass ich mit unserer 2jährigen Tochter heute den Hasen auf allen Bildern suchte und abends mit meinem Mann Rätsel löste. Ist doch auch mal schön.
July 24, 2017
I'm really not sure how much sense this made, but the paintings were fascinating.
March 28, 2011
Like many another person I looked at this picture book and tried to find the clues to solving the mystery, but it was way too complex and obscure for me.
July 14, 2014
I had to read it in a bookstore. I don't even remember what the puzzle was, but I do still recall the excitement of a treasure hunt.
July 16, 2019
I wanted to try this because of the real life gold piece mystery in it and because I heard of it's infamy and that it was similar to the Eleventh Hour and puzzle books, even if I didn't like that book much or puzzle books much.
I read the beginning and skimmed the pictures, but I find some of the pictures creepy or boring with the hare too obvious in some and also questionable what qualifies as a hate (ex the hair masquerading as a hill is obvious but is a man with a hare rabbit's feet and ears also a hare? I wouldn't think so but I think the story expects you to think so).
I also hated the story writing and think it was bad and also a boring/bad story about the moon in love and pointlessly chasing/pining after the sun. The writing was bad, unengaging, and I didn't care for the bits of the story I read.
Lastly I did read up on the treasure solution hidden in this book and wouldn't have gotten it but aligning the eyes with the fingers and letters also feels kind of...random? You could just as easily develop some sort of Align fingers with words system or something else and it would be just guess and check what is right.
Anyway overall, an interesting book that was made but not for me.
I read the beginning and skimmed the pictures, but I find some of the pictures creepy or boring with the hare too obvious in some and also questionable what qualifies as a hate (ex the hair masquerading as a hill is obvious but is a man with a hare rabbit's feet and ears also a hare? I wouldn't think so but I think the story expects you to think so).
I also hated the story writing and think it was bad and also a boring/bad story about the moon in love and pointlessly chasing/pining after the sun. The writing was bad, unengaging, and I didn't care for the bits of the story I read.
Lastly I did read up on the treasure solution hidden in this book and wouldn't have gotten it but aligning the eyes with the fingers and letters also feels kind of...random? You could just as easily develop some sort of Align fingers with words system or something else and it would be just guess and check what is right.
Anyway overall, an interesting book that was made but not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2022
Wiki:
Masquerade est un livre d'image, écrit et illustré par Kit Williams, publié en août 1979 en Angleterre et en novembre 1979 en France[1], qui consiste en une chasse au trésor en résolvant des énigmes sur la localisation d'un lièvre en or, dissimulé quelque part en Grande-Bretagne. Il a inspiré de nombreux autres livres et donné naissance au genre « livre de chasse au trésor »
Note:
Dans les années 1970, l'auteur commence à créer un livre que les lecteurs devraient étudier attentivement, l'objectif devint la recherche d'un véritable trésor. Masquerade se compose de 15 tableaux détaillés illustrant l'histoire d'un lièvre (nommé Jack Hare), qui doit transporter un trésor de la lune au soleil. Arrivé au soleil, Jack découvre qu'il a perdu le trésor, et le lecteur doit le localiser.
Parallèlement à la création du livre, Williams conçoit un lièvre de 18 carats en or orné de bijoux, sous la forme d'un grand pendentif. Il enterre le trésor dans un coffre en céramique, en forme de lièvre (à la fois pour le protéger du sol et pour déjouer toute tentative de le localiser avec un détecteurdemétal). Sur le coffre est inscrite la légende : « Je suis le gardien du bijou de Masquerade, celui qui vous attend pour l'éternité »
Avis: Poétique, onirique et planches mystérieuses pleine de fantaisie. Un doux moments
Masquerade est un livre d'image, écrit et illustré par Kit Williams, publié en août 1979 en Angleterre et en novembre 1979 en France[1], qui consiste en une chasse au trésor en résolvant des énigmes sur la localisation d'un lièvre en or, dissimulé quelque part en Grande-Bretagne. Il a inspiré de nombreux autres livres et donné naissance au genre « livre de chasse au trésor »
Note:
Dans les années 1970, l'auteur commence à créer un livre que les lecteurs devraient étudier attentivement, l'objectif devint la recherche d'un véritable trésor. Masquerade se compose de 15 tableaux détaillés illustrant l'histoire d'un lièvre (nommé Jack Hare), qui doit transporter un trésor de la lune au soleil. Arrivé au soleil, Jack découvre qu'il a perdu le trésor, et le lecteur doit le localiser.
Parallèlement à la création du livre, Williams conçoit un lièvre de 18 carats en or orné de bijoux, sous la forme d'un grand pendentif. Il enterre le trésor dans un coffre en céramique, en forme de lièvre (à la fois pour le protéger du sol et pour déjouer toute tentative de le localiser avec un détecteurdemétal). Sur le coffre est inscrite la légende : « Je suis le gardien du bijou de Masquerade, celui qui vous attend pour l'éternité »
Avis: Poétique, onirique et planches mystérieuses pleine de fantaisie. Un doux moments
October 12, 2023
“Within the pages of this book there is a story told of love, adventures, fortunes lost, and a jewel of solid gold. To solve the hidden riddle, you must use your eyes, And find the hare in every picture that may point you to the prize."
I discovered about 'Masquerade', while me and mum were walking around an open gardens weekend and she spotted a hare card with a design that was similar to the golden hare. This led as to going down a golden hare hole. I entered up doing a lot of reading into the whole treasure hunt, looking at the game and even watched a few lectures- I highly recommend 'Hareraiser' (The Worst Game Ever)' by Stuart Ashen at the Norwich Gaming Festival from 2017, which can be found on YouTube.
From reading about the golden hare. I strongly believe this must have influenced - Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith for Inside No 9 and how there is a hidden hare statue in every episode.
I loved looking back through the book and it felt very nostalgic -especially with the whole history behind the treasure hunt. I still don't full understand how someone was able to decrypt the puzzles to find the golden hare.
"The best of men is only a man at best, And a hare, as everyone knows, is only a hare."
I discovered about 'Masquerade', while me and mum were walking around an open gardens weekend and she spotted a hare card with a design that was similar to the golden hare. This led as to going down a golden hare hole. I entered up doing a lot of reading into the whole treasure hunt, looking at the game and even watched a few lectures- I highly recommend 'Hareraiser' (The Worst Game Ever)' by Stuart Ashen at the Norwich Gaming Festival from 2017, which can be found on YouTube.
From reading about the golden hare. I strongly believe this must have influenced - Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith for Inside No 9 and how there is a hidden hare statue in every episode.
I loved looking back through the book and it felt very nostalgic -especially with the whole history behind the treasure hunt. I still don't full understand how someone was able to decrypt the puzzles to find the golden hare.
"The best of men is only a man at best, And a hare, as everyone knows, is only a hare."
June 9, 2022
One of my favorite books from childhood and still today. Kit Williams's paintings (amazing blendings of realistic detail and fantastic content) and words in this book form clues to the location of a buried treasure, a golden hare piece of jewlery wrought by Williams himself (the hare that is also the protagonist of the book's fairy tale-like story).
The book is absorbing enough just on the strength of the luminous paintings and the simple but evocative story that accompanies them, but the puzzle embedded throughout, while quite difficult (I never would have figured it out even as an adult) is quite elegant (all later printings include the solution in the back).
The search for and eventual finding of the hare was an international phenomenon for several years after the book was published in 1979, a fascinating story in its own right told in Quest for the Golden Hare.
The book is absorbing enough just on the strength of the luminous paintings and the simple but evocative story that accompanies them, but the puzzle embedded throughout, while quite difficult (I never would have figured it out even as an adult) is quite elegant (all later printings include the solution in the back).
The search for and eventual finding of the hare was an international phenomenon for several years after the book was published in 1979, a fascinating story in its own right told in Quest for the Golden Hare.
July 8, 2017
This puzzle of a book poses a many-layered tale. On the surface, it’s a simple story of a bumbling rabbit that’s supposed to give a present to the sun. But the sumptuous pictures and accompanying sentences are meant to provide clues to a lost treasure. Riddles abound (most easily enough solved) but the main mystery remains inexplicable. The pictures seem allegorical in nature but the human faces are often so detailed, they seem like portraits of real people.
Wherever this lost jewel is, the mystery is too convoluted for this reader to unravel. If you can’t manage either, simply enjoy this story for the exquisite quality of its pictures, the riddles and its story of an adventurous, determined, if ultimately bumbling, hare.
Wherever this lost jewel is, the mystery is too convoluted for this reader to unravel. If you can’t manage either, simply enjoy this story for the exquisite quality of its pictures, the riddles and its story of an adventurous, determined, if ultimately bumbling, hare.
February 15, 2019
"Somewhere in Britain Jack Hare lost the Moon's gift to the sun. Solve the riddles, unravel the puzzles, and see if you can figure out where."
The book is very....to put it mildly, STRANGE. I'm so glad I got the companion book that actually answers the questions of the puzzle, hidden in the beautiful illustrations and calligraphy throughout. The language is poetic. However, the distraction of both the story and its companion guide to solve the riddles and puzzles of the Lady of the Moon's lost gift makes it a much larger challenge to read.
However, for readers who enjoyed Kids who Code or Lemoncello Library or even The Westing Game, this is a good read-alike, BUT I must warn you, that despite the books' short length, this is one for those die-hard coders...
The book is very....to put it mildly, STRANGE. I'm so glad I got the companion book that actually answers the questions of the puzzle, hidden in the beautiful illustrations and calligraphy throughout. The language is poetic. However, the distraction of both the story and its companion guide to solve the riddles and puzzles of the Lady of the Moon's lost gift makes it a much larger challenge to read.
However, for readers who enjoyed Kids who Code or Lemoncello Library or even The Westing Game, this is a good read-alike, BUT I must warn you, that despite the books' short length, this is one for those die-hard coders...
May 25, 2024
We got this book at a bring and buy sale.
As far as I can remember the puzzle had not been solved by then. We had a few days of pouring over the BEAUTIFUL illustrations then put it to one side.
We had just moved into our first flat together and were looking for stuff to brighten the place up.
My lass bought some posh looking black picture frames and stuck in three or four of the best pics and put the around the lobby.
They were ace to look at and were quite unique.
Happy daze.
As far as I can remember the puzzle had not been solved by then. We had a few days of pouring over the BEAUTIFUL illustrations then put it to one side.
We had just moved into our first flat together and were looking for stuff to brighten the place up.
My lass bought some posh looking black picture frames and stuck in three or four of the best pics and put the around the lobby.
They were ace to look at and were quite unique.
Happy daze.
February 21, 2025
This book is fascinating. I stumbled across the story of it on a local podcast from my local library called Story Search if you'd like to listen to it too here's the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thJlh...
Basically this book was released back in the 70s and the author had buried real life gold treasure (a golden hare, encrusted with jewels and gems that he had made himself) that could only be found by solving the deep hidden clues within this book! A widespread treasure hunt ensued with people traveling over from all over the world to find it. Eventually it was found in a local town near me called Ampthill! The place I used to work in! I couldn't believe I was only finding out about this amazing story that put Ampthill on the map years after I worked there. I borrowed the book from the local studies archive straight away to see the book in all its glory for myself. Beautiful illustrations and even more so when you know the work and effort and time that went into each and every single one in order for people to really 'see' every minute detail in each illustration for them to 'point' people into the right direction!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thJlh...
Basically this book was released back in the 70s and the author had buried real life gold treasure (a golden hare, encrusted with jewels and gems that he had made himself) that could only be found by solving the deep hidden clues within this book! A widespread treasure hunt ensued with people traveling over from all over the world to find it. Eventually it was found in a local town near me called Ampthill! The place I used to work in! I couldn't believe I was only finding out about this amazing story that put Ampthill on the map years after I worked there. I borrowed the book from the local studies archive straight away to see the book in all its glory for myself. Beautiful illustrations and even more so when you know the work and effort and time that went into each and every single one in order for people to really 'see' every minute detail in each illustration for them to 'point' people into the right direction!
December 14, 2019
Best seller in the year of my birth! Fun read. Would be fun to read again and try to solve all the riddles and clues.
Also, I want to watch the documentary about this. It was a huge thing in the 80s and the scandal over the person who first found it and their cheating. Hmm. Also, it sold after at Sotheby’s for £31k!! Very interesting story.
Also, I want to watch the documentary about this. It was a huge thing in the 80s and the scandal over the person who first found it and their cheating. Hmm. Also, it sold after at Sotheby’s for £31k!! Very interesting story.
August 17, 2024
LOVE the Illustrations. I now want to do some sort of embroidery of dog roses twining around an oak tree made of hares!
and genuinely had to puzzle over some of the riddles and words!
I picked up lots of clues but didn't get even an inkling of the main solution and when I looked it up I found I was way off with the "maths puzzles" (the blurb on the back is highly misleading in this respect!)
and genuinely had to puzzle over some of the riddles and words!
I picked up lots of clues but didn't get even an inkling of the main solution and when I looked it up I found I was way off with the "maths puzzles" (the blurb on the back is highly misleading in this respect!)
May 4, 2020
I think someone gave this to me for a Highschool Graduation in 1981. I think maybe it had to do with finding a treasure. I could never figure this book out so I gave it away and then found it again. Now back in my library but looking at it today and re-reading it...I still don't get it. Oh well.
July 31, 2021
I found this book in my attic when I was cleaning out to donate items for a Flea Market. I don't remember buying it. I must have gotten it as a gift, although there was no inscription. I'm not a fan of riddles, so I found it pretty weird. The illustrations were interesting.
October 14, 2021
What a fun book! I heard about this book on the podcast "Criminal" and just had to read it. I recommend listening to the podcast episode and then reading the book (or vice versa if you prefer). I would have NEVER been able to solve the mystery and find the hare.
July 8, 2022
I really wish I had discovered this when it was actually going on so that I could have taken part. But even without an actual treasure hunt to do it’s still a beautifully drawn book that I think my son will enjoy looking at
August 19, 2022
What in the hell even is this? I so very much didn't get it. The paintings are nice and the background on the book's origin and accompanying treasure hunt was interesting, but everything else: concept, story, riddles, key to finding the treasure, etc. was way over my head. Super weird.
March 8, 2018
Absolutely gorgeous. Enthralling.
January 26, 2020
Beautifully illustrated, we found this in a charity shop and felt very lucky to have found a copy of a book from childhood
April 8, 2020
My favorite book as a child - a beautiful, frustrating treasure map.
February 5, 2021
I gave this book 5 🌟 for the amazing illustrations. When I studied the pictures carefully, I always found more and more things to look at.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews