Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/39 - Surprising Relationship

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $39$

Surprising Relationship

Angelina: "You say that Mr. Tomkins is your uncle?"

Edwin: "Yes, and I am his uncle!"

Angelina: Then -- let me see -- you must be nephew to each other, of course! Funny, isn't it?"

Can you say quite simply how this might be, without any breach of the marriage law or disregard of the Table of Affinity?

Historical Note

The original solution appears to have been the work of Dudeney himself.

As reported by Martin Gardner in ins $1968$ repackaging 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems, the other two solutions originated with Victor Meally.

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Arithmetical and Algebraical Problems: Age and Kinship Puzzles: $39$. -- Surprising Relationship
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Unclassified Puzzles: $519$. Surprising Relationship