Comments on: Independent 8,091 / Dac

By: ginoinaus

ginoinaus — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:39:51 +0000

Hello all. I’m smiling because after 3 months of trying to solve an Inde Crossword when being an australian and not understanding many of your UK references I finally, FINALLY solved one. Either DAC should try harder or I’m getting better at this. Thanks for the blog tho, because it has, over time, helped me to recognise clue indicators done the pommy way. Cheerio cobbers.

By: Bertandjoyce

Bertandjoyce — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 22:01:06 +0000

Much to enjoy here from Dac. Last one in was 14 ac after having some electronic help (well it is late again!) with 15d but an excellent clue!

Thanks RR for the blog and many thanks to Dac!

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 21:33:24 +0000

As others have said, not a difficult puzzle, but not an easy one either. I completed it without any external help, not even an atlas for the two place names. 13ac was the last in. I could see what it was an anagram of, but I just couldn’t see the word until I had all the cross letters.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 21:14:37 +0000

Was not doubting you at all – yvains at #6 – and interesting to learn that. It was just that, in the context of the crossword, I’d have been thrown by seeing ‘Gascon’ in the clue and was just making a light-hearted point to illustrate that.

Going back to the serious point, yes, I think the word ‘nationalism’ and, I guess therefore to some extent the idea, was not known before C19.

By: yvains

yvains — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:56:28 +0000

@nmsindy – just to be clear, I certainly wasn’t suggesting that ‘French’ was wrong, or that there was anything remotely wrong with the clue – just that D’Artagnan is described as being very proud of being Gascon, and so would probably have self-identified as such, more than as French. In France, national (as opposed to regional) identity is a surprisingly recent invention, and even now doesn’t hold total sway…

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:26:37 +0000

I’m still glad, yvains at #4, that Dac did define him as a Frenchman…

Also I guess, ‘French hero’ could also be seen as ‘hero of the French’

I agree with the comments – excellent puzzle just a shade on the easy side of how I find Dac normally. Favourite clues GRACE, CHINAWARE and WINED.

By: yvains

yvains — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:21:42 +0000

Thanks for the blog (and before that, the puzzle).

I’d have loved to find a way to make CONSOMME fit at 12 (always find it very distracting, when a clearly-impossible answer keeps pushing itself forward, yelling, “Me, Miss!”). The stand-out clue, for me, was 15; though 14 and 17 were also great fun.

I’m pretty sure the Musketeer would have insisted on being called a Gascon, rather than a Frenchman

By: rowland

rowland — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:07:38 +0000

Hi RR

Great blog, and as you say a puzzle full of goodness, smoothness, and perhaps a good example of ‘non-bittiness’ with reference to my unpopular comments about yesterday’s Guardian. I apologise for upsetting those concerned, but Dac makes my poiunt far better than I ever could!

Well done all,
Rowly.

By: MikeC

MikeC — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:41:53 +0000

Nice one! Thanks RR and Dac.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:29:12 +0000

A bit less of a swift solve in chilly Derbyshire this morning, but as always a delight from Dac. NW corner, where I habitually start, went in quickly enough, but the last few took a bit of working out. ACHILLES TENDON is a great clue, as was BAILEYS once I’d twigged the definition. Couldn’t parse HARPENDEN, so thanks for that. CHINAWARE was a bit cheeky …