Solving time 14:42. Quite a mixed bag here, with literature and mythology well represented, but also a bit of sport, politics and science. A couple of relatively obscure words (I’m thinking DITHYRAMB and RATAFIA, which were mentioned in Forum comments), but I knew them – both coincidentally clued with fully-reversed wordplay. Also (as mentioned below) a brilliant prophecy in 12ac, as Tottenham Hotspur got thrashed 3-0 by Borussia Dortmund in the following week. I hope the setter’s a betting man!
Across |
1 |
Virile man travelled initially in French south (4) |
STUD – T(ravelled) inside SUD (French for south). |
4 |
Unauthenticated first letter with copy Ralph produced (10) |
APOCRYPHAL – A (first letter) + (copy Ralph)*. |
9 |
Bluff by Tory PM reveals tortured character (10) |
HEATHCLIFF – CLIFF (bluff) next to HEATH (Tory PM). Main character and anti-hero in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. |
10 |
Some Guinness female companions keep (4) |
ALEC – hidden in “female companions”. Sir Alec Guinness, the actor. |
11 |
Weapons manufacturer busy at last in shady nook (6) |
BOWYER – (bus)Y inside BOWER (shady nook). |
12 |
Spurs nightmare in fragile defence? (8) |
EGGSHELL – EGGS (spurs) + HELL (nightmare). Prophetic surface considering what happened on Thursday night! |
1 |
Bloodsucker following inconclusive guide (4) |
FLEA – F(ollowing) + LEA(d) (“inconclusive” guide). |
15 |
Notice key Herts town band used to make impression (6,4) |
SIGNET RING – SIGN (notice) + E (key) + TRING (Herts town). |
17 |
Limber law-breaker out to steal the kitty? (3,7) |
CAT BURGLAR – cryptic definition. I remember when I was about 4 I thought that was exactly what they did! |
20 |
Little man pockets million — a fortune! (4) |
BOMB – BOB (little man) around M(illion). As in the phrase “That must have cost a bomb!” |
21 |
Retired news provider probes map book for fabulous place (8) |
ATLANTIS – ITN (news provider) reversed, inside ATLAS (map book). |
23 |
A new resident in shelter he or she rents (6) |
TENANT – A + N(ew) inside TENT (shelter). |
24 |
Opening time brings old politician (4) |
PITT – PIT (opening) + T(ime). |
25 |
Display in marshy land upset Hugo? It’s understandable (4,6) |
FAIR ENOUGH – AIR (display) inside FEN (marshy land), + (Hugo)*. |
26 |
Brave daughter, in favour of being hugged, came closer (10) |
APPROACHED – APACHE (brave) + D(aughter), around PRO (in favour of). |
27 |
Duke to vex Duncan’s killer? (4) |
DIRK – D(uke) + IRK (vex). The weapon Macbeth would have used to stab King Duncan in the Shakespeare play. |
Down |
2 |
Another belt’s given out for this? (3,5,3) |
THE NOBLE ART – (another belt)*, semi-&lit. |
3 |
Black girl, concealed, keeps time for uplifting, passionate hymn (9) |
DITHYRAMB – B(lack) + MARY (girl) + HID (concealed) around T(ime), all reversed. In ancient Greece, a wild impassioned choral hymn sung in honour of Bacchus (according to Chambers). |
4 |
Bill to go with trousers is in agreement (7) |
ACCORDS – AC (bill) + CORDS (trousers). |
5 |
Versatile writer — girls loved him to dance (6,9) |
OLIVER GOLDSMITH – (girls loved him to)*. As a novelist, poet and playwright I suppose he was pretty versatile. |
6 |
Exile concerned with stale atmosphere vacated enclosure (7) |
REFUGEE – RE (concerned with) + FUG (stale atmosphere) + E(nclosur)E. |
7 |
Keep around 50 to share (5) |
HALVE – HAVE (keep) around L (50). |
8 |
Laughing out loud about chap regularly seen in pub (5) |
LOCAL – LOL (txtish abbreviation) around C(h)A(p). |
13 |
Chain gang’s boss? (4,7) |
LINE MANAGER – cryptic definition. |
16 |
Bird, top in falconry, despoiler in forest (5,4) |
ROBIN HOOD – ROBIN (bird) + HOOD (top in falconry). Strange choice of definition, a bit too mean-sounding for the legendary “noble outlaw”. |
18 |
Liqueur available at first if a sailor’s capsized (7) |
RATAFIA – A(vailable) + IF + A + TAR (sailor), all reversed. |
19 |
Political extremist claiming to be in Paris or Tyre? (7) |
RETREAD – RAD (political extremist) around ETRE (French for “to be”). |
21 |
Brightest star / most dominant (5) |
ALPHA – double definition. |
22 |
Happy after tenancy comes to stop (3,2) |
LET UP – UP (happy) after LET (tenancy). |
One week on, I can never remember whether I enjoyed a puzzle. Let’s assume I did.
I’ve just had a quick look at today’s puzzle and can’t even get started. Last week’s allowed a foothold. David
Nothing outstanding, but some nice enough clues – 2d, 19d and 25a my personal pick of the crop. I did wonder about “versatile” in 5d – seemed a bit odd, but fair enough. Thanks for the blog Andy.
I did though have The Final Act for a long time for 2d, which caused no end of problems. Also had difficulty justifying Accords for the singular agreement & then dithered over whether Accorde or Acchord were actually words.
I got there in the end but Tipex was most definitely involved.
Thanks to setter and blogger – a very enjoyable challenge.