Comments on: Inquisitor 1236: 1 to 38 by Phi

By: HolyGhost

HolyGhost — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:55:02 +0000

Phi at comment 2: There was no implied criticism of the layout of your grid - as I have said before, I have much admiration for anyone that can compose a thematic crossword such as yours. (My mind did take a flight of fancy regarding the possibility of extending it to a 13×13 grid with a barred off central cell to contain the apostrophe between ALICE and S.) Thankyou for alerting us to the fact that the publication date of the puzzle closely marked the 150th anniversary of the initial telling of the tale. I'll add a footnote about that to the blog when I get home.

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 08:55:33 +0000

Well, I completed this in that I appear to have the right letter in every square, and that doesn’t often happen for me with an Inquisitor puzzle, but I couldn’t understand the preamble – the misdirection worked and I was assuming letters had to be dropped from the clue – and got those answers purely on the definition. It’s obvious now that it’s been pointed out.

I didn’t see the “route” either, but that was because I was so surprised at filling in the grid I left it at that. The theme was one I knew well, not only being an Alice fan but Lewis Carroll/Charles Dodgson is buried about a mile from where I live.

By: Hi of hihoba

Hi of hihoba — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 07:43:12 +0000

A very enjoyable solve, thanks to Phi’s usual immaculate clues. I had to do some Googling as, being a Cambridge man, I was unaware of Godstow’s existence and didn’t know the name of Alice’s sister. Other than that I had no question marks on my copy – unusual for the Inquisitor, and a pleasant change from recent offerings!

By: Phi

Phi — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 07:34:23 +0000

Quite right about the number of affected answers, which slipped past me (and all the editors and test solvers too, it seems, but I should have got it right at the outset).

I paid no attention to the geography of Oxford and Godstow, as my main concern was fitting in ADVENTURES and WONDERLAND in the correct positions in the title, and GODSTOW wouldn’t mesh with the other end of WONDERLAND.

It was, of course, the sesquicentenary of the trip (which took place on 4 July 1862) a few days after the puzzle appeared.

By: Al Dente

Al Dente — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 06:38:53 +0000

Good morning HolyGhost (I’m up and about much earlier than I would normally be). There was indeed another
sister of Alice’s named Lorina. She also accompanied Alice and Edith on the river trips and picnics.
Thanks for the blog as it cleared up an uncertaintainty I had with 17d.