Solving time : 13:54
Israelis, Czech, Latvian, Turkey and Anglais appear in answers. Not to mention the Nova Scotian (mis)described as an islander.
I could complain that indicating “totty” as “attractive women” in 22A is not entirely politically correct, and perhaps should have been described as “slang” or “informal”. But it made me laugh.
Across
1 | NIGHT WATCHMEN – Two meanings, from cricket and art |
8 | OVEN – indirectly hidden in (Aix-en-Pr)OVEN(ce) |
9 | PINNED DOWN – Two meanings. Not sure about the canvas one, but my guess is that it is a wrestling reference |
11 | HEARS + T(imes) – reference to Randolph Hearst. I am not sure about “is informed about” meaning “hears”. They can both mean “learns”, but I cannot yet think of a sentence in which they can be naturally substituted. (I am just irritated that I was determined that the “about” must be a containment indicator.) |
16 | TRAP – two meanings. The words “when driving” are not needed for the cryptic reading – I am not sure if they are a reference to speed traps or sand traps – but they stitch the surface together neatly. |
17 | DISC, being IS in CD(rev) |
18 | (s)TALK TURKEY |
20 | ENV(ironmental foot-sold)IER – clever. I was sure it was going to involve GR(e)EN or G(ree)N for longer than I should have been |
24 | MA IN SPRING – meaning that with early graduation one doesn’t have to wait until Summer to get one’s MA. I find this a bit odd, as I think of graduation as meaning getting a first degree, typically a B rather than an M. Even in the old Oxbridge system where earning one’s MA involved merely paying a fee, it is the BA that one would have got in the spring by graduating early |
27 | OLD BOY NETWORK, being NET (= profit(v)) in BLOODY* + WORK |
Down
1 | NOVA SCOTIAN, being (ON VACATIONS)* – this took me far too long, as I didn’t have Nova Scotia categorised as an island. And now that I have checked, I find that most of it is a peninsula. |
2 | GENOA, being G(ood) + (A ONE)(rev) |
5 | CZECH (= “cheque” and =”check”) – two homophones for the price of one. Stupidly writing in CHECK slowed me up a little. |
6 | MAD HATTER, being THAT* in DREAM* – Great &lit. I haven’t checked just now, but last time I looked, there was little support for the once popular theory that this character was so named because milliners were often deranged by mercury fumes |
12 | STAGES + TRUCK – took me a while (after finishing) to work out that “into” is part of the definition rather than a link word |
15 | SITS TIGHT, being (IT’S T(ime)) in SIGHT |
19 | LATVIAN, being VALIANT* – I was surprised to see a definition (“recently liberated state”) that seemed to embody a political view, but on reflection it is hardly a controversial one |
23 | LENT + O – I like O being clued as oval. My Os tend to be ovoid or elliptical rather than circular |
25 | ADO, being the first, last and central letters in AnnOyeD |
Very nice misdirection in 20 across. I was pretty sure “disheartened environmental” did not indicate GR(E)EN since “green” was in the clue, but I was fixated on OR for foot-soldier, so it was one of the last clues I solved.
Luckily, Aix-en-Provence was the second Aix I thought of. (On seeing Aix, I can’t help but think of the place from which one brings news to Ghent. I think that is Aachen or Aix La Chappelle.) While agreeing it is slightly outrageous, there is no hidden indicator in the clue, and so I think it would have to refer to an “Aix-en-” rather than an “Aix La” or “Aix Les”.
Good point about 20A already containing the word “green”. That makes me feel even more stupid about spending so long trying to squeeze it into the answer.
Very nice misdirection in 20 across. I was pretty sure “disheartened environmental” did not indicate GR(E)EN since “green” was in the clue, but I was fixated on OR for foot-soldier, so it was one of the last clues I solved.
I guessed Nightwatchmen and Oven and failed on Envier putting Antiar out of desperation as it vaguely fitted a couple of elements of the clue. Other than that it seemed easier today than of late.
Thanks for the cricket sacrificial wordplay on 1A — though I have to say that “rabbits” did help me by confirming plural NIGHT WATCHMEN (at first I thought night watchman). Peter I don’t think this term is in your cryptic cricket tutorial!
The Nova Scotia mistake was unfortunate – its V makes the controversial OVEN a doddle. Perhaps there was some confusion with New Caledonia…
By coincidence the letters of DISC appear successively in 17 Across, but I don’t think there is another “hidden” controversy. Could not see how CD (DC) is “new backing” but, again, got the answer right.
Morton (in the Marsh) => “hem” .. etc. …must be loads more… possibly.
Having said that, though, I like it. I’m not one for straight edges and neatly defined boundaries when it comes to cryptic crosswords. It’s all about misdirection and boundary blurring. Solvers should groan and moan as they work their way through for me. If a solver can get the answer then complaining it’s unfair doesn’t wash. It’s a puzzle not accountancy.
— Smillsy
10a People in republic throwing king back in river (8)
IS RAEL IS. King Lear sitting backwards in a sunken Oxford punt?
13a (Carol I sang)* badly, as alto member of family (3,7)
COR ANGLAIS. Nice anagram but Wiki says that the Cor Anglais is generally regarded as the Tenor oboe and the Oboe d’Amore is the alto one. Just sayin’.
22a A line I used, swallowed by attractive women as a whole (8)
TOT ALI TY. As Richard says, the Totty is not PC. Does this bring to mind any of the current setters?
26a Part of speech negating international group (4)
NO UN
3d Excellent means of access to attic (3-6)
TOP FLIGHT
4d Failure to recall men stupidly invading East (7)
A MNE SIA
7d Japanese acts on wife’s present (3)
NO W. No or Noh is a type of Japanese Theatre quite commonly used in x-word land.
14d Disposed of lots of uranium, carried out, kept outside (9)
A U CTIONED
21d What’s concerrning expert? It’s a copy! (5)
RE PRO