Gullivers Travels Puzzle 
by Guest Writer Roberta Shore

We invite you to read Roberta Shore's review on the following jigsaw puzzle. Since she has discovered the advantages of jigsaw puzzling, she has reviewed/journaled several that will be available on this website.  We have located a similar puzzle image below. You may like this similar  Amazon Link

Gulliver’s Travels Puzzle

Spilsbury (Bits and Pieces Partner)
Random Cut
300 Oversized Pieces
Finished Dimensions: 24” X 18”

One For The Ages Puzzle Review

Roberta-Profile
Gulliver’s Travels Puzzle

Spilsbury (Bits and Pieces Partner)
Random Cut
300 Oversized Pieces
Finished Dimensions: 24” X 18”

Gulliver’s Travels Puzzle

Spilsbury (Bits and Pieces Partner)
Random Cut
300 Oversized Pieces
Finished Dimensions: 24” X 18”

My Confident Newbie Difficulty Rating: Easy-ish 

Okay, what made this 300 piece puzzle less than easy were the very wonky, random cut pieces. No surprise, the large green area was left for last.

My personal opinion - this illustration is creepy. I did not purchase this puzzle. It was part of a Bits and Pieces buy 2 get one free offer - the free one was random from a choice of piece count. I googled the description which only adds to the creepiness: “A giant finger reaches out to help the person dangling from the hot air balloon where others stand watching.”

Quality: Oh dear, from the box description: “Spilsbury Premium Puzzles = Perfect Puzzling.” Also “Linen Paper with a fine texture that reduces glare.” Sorry — far from perfect or near matte. The box was fine — small and sturdy, with the full illustration on the cover. Color match to pieces was good. Inside was a sealed bag of pieces; no poster was included. There was quite a bit of puzzle dust. The pieces had noticeable sheen. Piece fit was not the worst, but puzzle pick up was a fail. Several pieces were bent and did not lie flat. The print was missing from a corner of 3 pieces. No pieces were missing.

Getting started: Find the edge pieces and sort by color. I sorted yellow, green, skin tones, sky, the small balloon, and the large basket.

Construction: I built the frame first and filled in from the edges. Once sorted, a lot fell into place fairly quickly. The only section I pieced together first was the large basket and its passengers. As previously stated, I finished with the green pieces. If nothing else, it was fun to see it completed.

Final thoughts: One reason I chose to review this puzzle is the branding - this was the first Spilsbury in my collection. It didn’t fare too well in the quality department, but it would be unfair to disregard the company after only one copy of one puzzle. I checked out the Spilsbury site. Lots of themes and piece counts and brands from Peanuts to Wasgij, all competitively priced. And, if you loved this illustration, it also comes in a 500 piece version. It is based on a painting by artist Dan Craig. As far as I can tell, it is the artist’s interpretation of fantasy suggested in Jonathan Swift’s story of Gulliver’s travels. I looked everywhere for mention of hot air balloons in the epic work, I found none.

My grades: Quality, B-, Fun Factor B+




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About: Gulliver's Travels, A Classic Tale Reimagined in Art and Puzzle

Introduction

Gulliver's Travels, a timeless literary masterpiece by Jonathan Swift, has captivated readers for centuries with its imaginative and satirical portrayal of society. In a unique collaboration between artist Dan Craig and Spilbury's Puzzle Company, this beloved tale has been transformed into an artistic rendition and a captivating 300-piece jigsaw puzzle. In this article, we explore the history of Gulliver's Travels, the artistic vision of Dan Craig, and the creation of the puzzle that brings this literary gem to life in a new and interactive way.

The Timeless Appeal of Gulliver's Travels

Published in 1726, Gulliver's Travels follows the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver, an English ship's surgeon who finds himself in extraordinary and fantastical lands. Swift's novel is a social and political satire that critiques various aspects of human society, employing humor and wit to convey profound commentary on human nature, politics, and morality. The enduring appeal of Gulliver's Travels lies in its ability to entertain readers while offering a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition.

The Artistic Vision of Dan Craig

Artist Dan Craig, known for his intricate and detailed illustrations, embarked on a creative endeavor to visually interpret Gulliver's Travels. Inspired by the rich imagery and imaginative settings of the novel, Craig set out to create an artistic version that would capture the essence of Swift's masterpiece.

The Collaboration with Spilbury's Puzzle Company

Recognizing the artistic brilliance of Craig's rendition, Spilbury's Puzzle Company saw an opportunity to transform Gulliver's Travels into an engaging puzzle experience. Through a licensing agreement, the company obtained the rights to reproduce Craig's artwork in the form of a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle.

Spilbury's Puzzle Company, known for its dedication to quality and craftsmanship, understood the potential of combining the literary charm of Gulliver's Travels with the interactive and challenging nature of puzzles. This collaboration marked a unique endeavor to bring together literature, art, and puzzle-solving into a cohesive and immersive experience.

The Gulliver's Travels Puzzle: A Literary Journey in Pieces

The Gulliver's Travels puzzle presents puzzle enthusiasts with a delightful challenge, allowing them to embark on their own visual journey through Swift's iconic tale. Each of the 300 pieces showcases a fragment of Craig's intricate illustrations, inviting solvers to piece together the various scenes and characters from Gulliver's adventures.

As solvers meticulously assemble the puzzle, they reveal the extraordinary world of Gulliver's Travels, engaging with the story and its symbolism on a tactile and visual level. The puzzle becomes a gateway to the fantastical realms and thought-provoking themes explored in the novel, offering a new perspective and deeper appreciation for Swift's work.

Conclusion

Gulliver's Travels, a literary masterpiece that has stood the test of time, continues to captivate readers with its imaginative storytelling and satirical commentary. The artistic interpretation of Dan Craig and the collaboration with Spilbury's Puzzle Company have breathed new life into this classic tale.

Through the creation of a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle, readers and puzzle enthusiasts can now embark on an interactive journey through Gulliver's Travels, immersing themselves in the vivid illustrations and unraveling the intricate world of Swift's imagination.

The marriage of literature, art, and puzzle-solving brings a fresh perspective to Gulliver's adventures, inviting us to rediscover the timeless appeal of this beloved work in a delightful and engaging format.

(ChatGPT, personal communication, June 20, 2023)