We get to know many people on first-name terms, and we extend a warm welcome to all. But who are the guests of Gladstone's Library? What are they like? Well, we believe this picture tells a story: 
This Rosetta Stone jigsaw puzzle was donated to us. It is one of several puzzles and board games that live in the Gladstone Room lounge. The lounge is a sociable spot, designed so our residential and restaurant guests can sit sipping coffee (or wine, after 5pm), chatting, leafing through books and whiling away a bit of time.The Rosetta Stone puzzle is renowned as a particularly fiendish challenge. It isn’t quite as tricky as deciphering hieroglyphics, but somebody has been working on it over the past few days.At one point, the pieces were sorted by script. At first they sat in little piles, untouched, then somebody added useful labels.Based on differences in handwriting, somebody else added an addendum to a note (Arabic, Hieratic?), which was later corrected to Demotic by a third party.One colleague wryly described the saga as ‘the most Gladstone’s Library thing ever’.
Now the pieces have been spread out again.We discovered the main puzzle-piecer is Dan Kaszeta, our current Writer in Residence (though a consultant radiologist also took a brave stab at the puzzle over the weekend, too).
It emerged that one of the barriers to completion is the size of the image on the box: it’s too small to make out the script.Dan, in a moment of inspiration, took to social media to ask whether his 39,000+ followers could help, and one of them offered to go into the British Museum to take a photograph of the actual Rosetta Stone.The resulting photographs will be blown up and laminated, for the benefit of future puzzlers.The puzzle is progressing, though Dan describes the Demotic section as ‘tetchy’.So – back to the original question. What are our guests like? This all suggests our guests are problem-solvers, generous and intellectually curious, and willing to offer and ask for help.
Or maybe they just like playing with puzzles.Either way, we are always happy to welcome new friends into the fold and rebuild our connections with old acquaintances. Whether you have stayed before or are considering your first visit, you are welcome.