When I volunteered to fill in for PeeDee, I did not realize that I was down for the Guardian as well – nor, of course, that I would be served up with Cinephile and Arachne. I have managed to digest this embarras des richesses. I hope it sits well with me in the morning.
| Across | |||
| 1. | Saw plain cake? (7) | ||
| NOTICED | A charade of NOT ICED (‘plain cake’). | ||
| 5. | See 4 | ||
| – | See 4 | ||
| 8, 3. | Bad driving clan hid in Christmas picture (6,3,5) | ||
| VIRGIN AND CHILD | An anagram (‘bad’) of ‘driving clan hid’. | ||
| 9. | See with temporary occupant (5) | ||
| LOCUM | Cryptic definition – ‘see’ as diocese. | ||
| 11. | Forename of writer, a lord in the making (5) | ||
| ROALD | An anagram (‘in the making’) of ‘a lord’. The reference would be to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach etc. | ||
| 12. | Agreement on time not quite ready for song (9) | ||
| YESTERDAY | A charade of YES (‘agreement’) + T (‘time’) + ERDAY, an anagram (‘not quite’?) of ‘ready’. | ||
| 13. | It’s not romance that comes in before all, I fear (4,4) | ||
| REAL LIFE | An answer hidden (‘comes in’) in ‘befoRE ALL I FEar’. | ||
| 15, 2. | What angels do with iron painting and books to study (4,2,5) | ||
| FEAR TO TREAD | A charade of FE (‘iron’) + ART (‘painting’) + OT (Old Testament, ‘books’) + READ (‘study’). The 15, 2 is a misprint – it should be 15, 23 (down). | ||
| 17, 23. | Prudence needed for effective powers or they’re no use at all (6,5) | ||
| WISDOM TEETH | Definition and literal interpretation. | ||
| 19. | Easy target split into two? (4,4) | ||
| BARN DOOR | I suppose that the ‘split in two’ suggests that a barn has double doors, or two half-doors. | ||
| 22. | Old mark with squares for money (9) | ||
| EXCHEQUER | A charade of EX (‘old’) + CHEQUER (‘mark with squares’). | ||
| 23. | See 17 | ||
| – | See 17 | ||
| 24. | Second wind instrument has been cut (5) | ||
| SHORN | A charade of S (‘second’) + HORN (‘wind instrument’). | ||
| 25. | Heroes had trouble with nebula (9) | ||
| HORSEHEAD | An anagram (‘trouble’) of ‘heroes had’. | ||
| 26. | Fair vote is possible cage (6) | ||
| PRISON | A charade of PR (proportional representation, ‘fair vote’) + ‘is’ + ON (‘possible’). | ||
| 27. | Stuffing material to put away in Cornish town (7) | ||
| PADSTOW | A charade of PAD (‘stuffing material’) + STOW (‘put away’). | ||
| Down | |||
| 1. | See 10 | ||
| – | See 10 | ||
| 2. | Formerly Rudolf’s Ottoman tales? (7) | ||
| TURKANA | A charade of TURK (‘Ottoman’) + ANA (‘tales’). Lake Turkana in Kenya used to be known as Lake Rudolph. | ||
| 3. | See 8 | ||
| – | See 8 | ||
| 4, 5 across. | Attack repelled: any food, boy? Could be humorous work (5,2,1,6) | ||
| DIARY OF A NOBODY | A charade of DIAR, a reversal of RAID (‘attack repelled’) + an anagram (‘could be’) of ‘any food boy’. Nobody lived in Brickfield Terrace, and his name was Pooter; in the Grossmith brothers’ comic novel. | ||
| 5. | Crazy guy going round the underworld with no clothes on? (6) | ||
| NUDIST | An envelope (‘going round’) of DIS (‘the underworld’) in NUT (‘crazy guy’). | ||
| 6. | Trust to show falsity of mood (7,2) | ||
| BELIEVE IN | A charade of BELIE (‘to show falsity’) + VEIN (‘mood’). | ||
| 7. | Settler made from French drink (7) | ||
| DECIDER | A charade of DE (‘from French’) + CIDER (‘drink’). | ||
| 10, 1 down. | Wish for solvers’ prosperity, dieting not recommended? (3,4,6,5,4,4) | ||
| MAY YOUR SHADOW NEVER GROW LESS | Cryptic definition. | ||
| 14. | Convenience observed by policeman – tiers needed (5,4) | ||
| LOOSE ENDS | A charade of LOO (‘convenience’) + SEEN (‘observed’) + DS (Detective Sergeant, ‘policeman’). | ||
| 16. | Musical raven to secure one’s overheads (8) | ||
| HAIRGRIP | A charade of HAIR (‘musical’) + GRIP (‘raven’ in Dickens’ Barnaby Rudge); with a cryptic definition. | ||
| 18. | Help for dupe, say (7) | ||
| SUCCOUR | A homophone (‘say’) of SUCKER (‘dupe’). | ||
| 20. | Have too much before getting among eggs at tea, say (7) | ||
| OVEREAT | An envelope (‘getting among’) of ERE (‘before’) in OVA (‘eggs’) + T (‘tea,say’). | ||
| 21. | What fools do with marsh plant at home (4,2) | ||
| RUSH IN | A charade of RUSH (‘marsh plant’) + IN (‘at home’). cf 15/23. | ||
| 23. | See 15 | ||
| – | See 15 | ||
Thanks for reminding me about Lake Rudolph’s name change – otherwise this was the only clue which had foxed me.
Thanks PeterO [especially for 2dn].
An ’embarras des richesses’ indeed – I’m sure you’re not complaining!
Lovely puzzle – I particularly liked the well hidden 13ac and the link between 21dn and 15,2.
I think 9ac is a charade of LO [the other crossword standby ‘see’] and CUM [with].
Great crossword. Thanks for the blog. A lot of nudity in today’s crosswords.
Thanks PO – needed you for 2d – both answer and 2nd component – otherwise another very enjoyable and not too tricky offering from the Master.
Liked the fools/angels link.
I agree with Eileen on 9ac. I got 2d but without conviction – it was the only word that fit – so thank you for explaining the clue.