Comments on: Financial Times 13,595 Set by Cinephile

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:12:48 +0000

We saved this crossword for today, which turned out to be a good idea since I do not want to solve Rovers anymore [and how right I am ...].

I can only agree with all the above posts that this was a magnificent Cinephile – in fact, this was a crossword that would hugely have been appreciated, if it were a Saturday Araucaria. And no dubious liberties this time, too.

Only a few (don’t worry, minor) quibbles.
We didn’t like to see MAE (as part of 21ac) defined by “the West” (one cannot ignore the “the” here, I think).
And we thought that there is not really an anagrind in 26ac. One might say “given” but that one belongs to “t(ime)”. And “for” is our opinion a bit meagre.
BTW, PeeDee, you forgot this “t(ime)” in your – excellent – blog.

Great fun!

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:23:28 +0000

Thanks PeeDee.
Agree with smiffy,best FT puzzle to date.
Unusual for the FT to give no indication of which clues were thematic,which added to the difficulty.I thought the definitions in the thematic clues were very fair.
Agree with bamberger @7 an example would have been helpful to solvers who are unfamiliar with this type of clueing.
Favourite clue was 14 across,last in were 19 across and 19 down,which I somehow managed to make more difficult than they turned out to be.
Hard Times must be the most clued of all Dickens’ novels – don’t often see Martin Chuzzlewit in crosswords!

I do like your innovation to show the clues – very clever!

By: Tony Welsh

Tony Welsh — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:33:22 +0000

Oops, I meant that I got 10d and 17d without the instruction, just like Alan.

By: Tony Welsh

Tony Welsh — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:31:46 +0000

Like Alan, I got 17d without having read the instruction, and was puzzled. Also 17d, and I knew something was up so then I read the instruction! Which made it all a lot easier but I still thought it odd that there was no indication of what to do with the unmentioned body part. e.g. how did one know to put “ankle” in the middle of “rd” in 11a. But a good puzzle none the less.

“Epigeal” unknown to me, as was the Hamlet quote.

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:31:22 +0000

Thank you PeeDee for the excellent blog and I’m happy to say the hovering mouse trick revealed the clues splendidly. I was held up with solving this as (I’m ashamed to admit) I hadn’t read the instructions. I was sure 17d had to be richest and 10d Middle Temple, but was puzzled as to what explained the body parts. Then I saw what I had missed (too eager to attempt the crossword is my excuse). Once the penny dropped, it was much easier going, and most enjoyable.

By: bamberger

bamberger — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:56:12 +0000

When I first read the rubric I couldn’t understand it. After 30 minutes I had solved only 4d so gave up and bought the Telegraph. It would have helped this novice if an example had been given of what he meant. Obviously one for the experienced.

By: Uncle Yap

Uncle Yap — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:42:47 +0000

Just before I go to sleep (nearly 1 am now) I discovered the “by hovering the mouse over the clue number” NEAT
How do you do this? Can you please email me and other bloggers so we can copy

By: smiffy

smiffy — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:50:39 +0000

Probably my favourite FT puzzle of the year to date. Was relieved to complete it without aids, albeit not without a little guesswork. Learned a new Shakespearian souindbite thanks to 5D, and thankfully the ‘Georgian city’ was not more obscure than the capital.

I also proffer a thumbs-up to the innovative, “hidden clue” feature of the blog. I’d be happy to try to replicate in tomorrow’s blog, provided that it’s not too finickety, or requires a PhD in HTML. Do you have a How To Guide, for Dummies like me?

By: Bracoman

Bracoman — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:21:46 +0000

Thanks for the innovative and helpful blog. I think is is a welcome addition to have the clue as well as the solution. Like the others I enjoyed this one.

By: Lenny

Lenny — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:04:27 +0000

This was a delightful puzzle and much more difficult than those the Reverend usually sets in Cinephile mode. I had great difficulty with the minimalist clues, such as those to Legit and Earls. I finished with Pseudonym which, on reflection, should have been obvious. Like Uncle Yap, I was intrigued by the Dickens novel making its second appearance of the day.
Thanks PeeDee, your hovering clues set a new standard in blogging.