Guardian Cryptic N° 26,162 by Brendan

by

The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26162.

A puzzle with a theme so pervasive and so obvious that even I could not miss it: Colin Dexter (23D), crossword enthusiast and author of the Inspector Endeavour (9A) Morse  (20A) novels and stories. Apart from general references to police matters, there are star turns by his assistants, Detective Sergeants Robert Lewis (10A), and James Hathaway (18D); John Thaw (25D), who played Morse in the television adaptations; Oxford (22D), the setting of the series, and, of course, the real ale by which Morse solved his cases (1D, though some might cavil at calling it mere BEER) . Then there is the reference to the last novel in 19A – and what else have I overlooked? Altogether a fine and enjoyable crossword.

Across
9. Contents of menu put away without a serious effort (9)
ENDEAVOUR An envelope (‘without’) of ‘a’ in EN (‘contents of mENu’) plus DEVOUR (‘put away’).
10. 22 down writer’s pseudonymous first and real last name (5)
LEWIS I think that this is a stretch, referencing Lewis Carroll, real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgeson, who spent most of his adult life at Christ Church, Oxford, and that Lewis is a ‘real last name’ (as well as that of the fictional Inspector Morse’s assistant).
11. Ringleader facilitates unexpected visits by police (5)
RAIDS A charade of R (‘Ringleader’) plus AIDS (‘facilitates’).
12. Try nurse? 9, initially embraced, cheered up (9)
HEARTENED An envelope (’embraced’) of E (‘9’ ENDEAVOUR ‘initially’) in HEAR (‘try’) plus TEND (‘nurse’).
13. Fatigue in the USA, possibly sign of times? (7)
EXHAUST An anagram (possibly’) of ‘the USA’ plus X (mathematical, ‘sign of times’).
14. Maintains page in novel should (7)
UPHOLDS An envelope (‘in’) of P (‘page’) in UHOLDS, an anagram (‘novel’) of ‘should’.
17. Something don may have done that contains one bug (5)
APHID An envelope (‘that contains’) of I (‘one’) in A PHD (‘something a don may have done’).
19. See final bits of The Remorseful Day (3)
ELY Last letters (‘final bits’) of ‘thE remorsefuL daY‘. The Remorseful Day is the last of the Inspector Morse novels, in which he dies of a heart attack.
20. Form of communication that’s a little bit incomplete (5)
MORSE A subtraction MORSE[l] (‘a little bit’) ‘incomplete’.
21. Try, as arranged, one caught being excessively lustful (7)
SATYRIC A charade of SATYR, an anagram (‘arranged’) of ‘try as’ plus I (‘one’) plus C (‘caught’).
22. Like something requested relating to Freemasons, say (2,5)
ON ORDER A charade of ON (‘relating to’) plus ORDER (‘Freemasons, say’).
24. Fare to be cooked over first part of Sunday? (5,4)
ROAST BEEF An envelope (‘over’) of S (‘first part of Sunday’) in ROATBEEF, an anagram (‘cooked’) of ‘fare to be’, with an extended definition – in this case, a true &lit.
26. Like page spotted in old book, was baffling (5)
FOXED Double definition – the first being quite literal, referencing a page in an old book that has developed brown spots.
28. Exciting series of events — a little drink leads to answer (5)
DRAMA A charade of DRAM (‘a little drink’) plus A (‘answer’).
29. Teams operating planes without second propellers (9)
AIRSCREWS An envelope (‘without’) of S (‘second’) in AIR CREWS (‘teams operating planes’).

Down
1. Exist as greatest fan of 20? That’s food for thought for him (4)
BEER A charade of BE (‘exist’) plus ER (‘greatest fan of 20’. I take it that the Queen is referenced, but I could not track it down).
2. Extremely old-fashioned police officer, quiet and somewhat eccentric? (6)
ODDISH A charade of OD (‘extremely Old-fashioneD‘) plus DI (Detective Inspector, ‘police officer’) plus SH (‘quiet’).
3. After service, set up ruddy odd and horrendous crime (4,6)
MASS MURDER A charade of MASS (‘service’) plus MURDER, a reversal (‘set up’ in a down light) of RED (‘ruddy’) plus RUM (‘odd’).
4. Broadcast particular role — why is that significant? (2,4)
SO WHAT A charade of SOW (‘broadcast’) plus HAT (‘particular role’, as in “I’m wearing my crossword solver’s hat at the moment”).
5. What’s unusually true, say, about reading or writing delightful collection (8)
TREASURY An envelope (‘about’) of R (‘reading or writing’, two of the three Rs – we had that one last week) in TEASURY, an anagram (‘unusually’) of ‘true, say’.
6. Storyline showing reason for policeman’s unhappiness under pressure (4)
PLOT A charade of P (‘pressure’) plus LOT (‘reason for policeman’s unhappiness’; a reference to “A policeman’s lot is not a happy one” from The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan.
7. Criminal who does all he can to make a living (8)
SWINDLER Cryptic definition, relying on reading ‘does’ as meaning cheats.
8. Part of religious education that’s not new (4)
USED A hidden answer (‘part of’) in ‘religioUS EDucation’.
13. Small section of church upset theatrical dame (5)
EVANS A reversal (‘upset’ in a down light) of S (‘small’) plus NAVE (‘section of church’), for Dame Edith Evans.
15. Government department’s honour accepted by male, not reserved? (4,6)
HOME OFFICE An envelope (‘accepted by’) of OM (Order of Merit, ‘honour’) in HE (‘male’) plus OFF ICE (‘not reserved’).
16. Weapon and drug stored in box (5)
SPEAR An envelope (‘stored in’) of E (ecstasy, ‘drug’) in SPAR (‘box’).
18. Playwright’s wife isn’t lacking technique, though dated (8)
HATHAWAY HATH A WAY (‘isn’t lacking technique’), with the antique verb (‘though dated’), for Anne Hathaway, ‘wife’ of the ‘ playwright’ Shakespeare.
19. Ruminate, getting stuck into ales, perhaps — avoidance behaviour? (8)
ESCHEWAL An envelope (‘stuck into’) of CHEW (‘ruminate’) in ESAL, an anagram (‘perhaps’) of ‘ales’.
22. Not totally orthodox for detective that embraces lost causes (6)
OXFORD A hidden answer (‘not totally’) in ‘orthodOX FOR Detective’. Matthew Arnold described Oxford as “Home of lost causes”
23. Stop vote being held that’s historically right (6)
DEXTER An envelope (‘being held’) of X (‘vote’) in DETER (‘stop’).
24. Annoyed, getting answer to crossword clue, finally (4)
RODE Last letters (‘finally’) of ‘answeR tO crossworD cluE‘. One of the many meanings of the verb RIDE is to annoy.
25. What changed as one result of global warming (4)
THAW An anagram (‘changed’) of ‘what’.
27. Verve shown in part of 20 (4)
DASH Double definition – dots and dashes making up Morse code.

38 comments on “Guardian Cryptic N° 26,162 by Brendan”

  1. Thanks Brendan and PeterO,

    I took LEWIS to refer to both Lewis Carroll and CS Lewis.

    Shaun EVANS played young Morse in Endeavour.

    Great Stuff!

  3. I also took 10ac to refer to CS Lewis. Since there are two writers the apostrophe in the clue is misplaced. Maybe it should be ‘names’ as well.

    Good show all round.

  4. Thanks Peter. Well, I have never seen the TV show and know nothing about it so the theme went way over my head. I found a couple of clues/answers like 1D a bit strange/strained but otherwise it was a pleasant, straightforward solve. I suppose that makes it a well-managed theme, enjoyable to those in the know but not obstructive to outsiders.

  5. Yes, even I couldn’t miss the theme, though thanks to Muffyword for pointing out the connection at 13d.
    My only small quibble is over the clue to 7d, which I thought could have been better.

  6. Thanks, PeterO for the blog.

    What a lovely puzzle – right up my street but, as HKrunner says, not knowing the theme would not exactly ruin it!

    I, too, am sure that CS Lewis is the one intended in 10ac. LEWIS is also the pseudonym of Dorothy Taylor, who wrote the Everyman crossword for a long time [see here:
    http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-04-14/colin-dexter-reveals-his-inspiration-for-endeavour-morse-and-lewis ].

    I remember it being said that the crossword editor did not allow a word to appear in a grid twice in a short space of time. It’s only four days since, as molonglo points out, we had THAW [with, again, an anagram clue: What upset John — possibly?] and, by coincidence, it was in the same Puck puzzle that we had ‘perhaps reading or writing’ for R, mentioned by PeterO. [That’s not really a complaint: I thought it was an unnecessary ‘rule’, anyway. I find it fascinating to see how different setters play around with the same word / idea.]

    Many thanks to Brendan for a most enjoyable puzzle – happy memories!

  7. Thanks Brendan and PeterO
    Very clever crossword, and a good challenge. Lots of “ticked” clues. The weakest, I thought, was the actual clue for HATHAWAY, though well done to Brendan for working the name in.

  8. Many thanks, Brendan and PeterO. To add to the list of Morse references: Hathaway is played by Laurence FOX(ed) and Lewis by Kevin (so)WHAT-ELY.

  9. Thanks, Peter. Really enjoyed finishing this one – I did become aware of the theme, which helped a bit, but some of the more subtle references passed me by. But as Eileen says, you could equally well have solved it without having been a fan. I liked the way Brendan clued HATHAWAY (although that was one of the references that eluded me).

  10. Thanks, PeterO. I thought this was very enjoyable, but quite a slow solve for a Brendan (~50′).

    For those not familiar with Morse, others have hinted at it, but not stated, John Thaw played Morse.

    In connection with the theme, there was also MASS MURDER, (police) RAIDS, possibly SWINDLER, and a reference to Morse’s crossword solving in 24d?

    Did anyone else find Jack Monroe’s picture, probably her eyes, very distracting when solving in the paper version?

    Judging by the small type face, Brendan must have one of the largest word/clue in Xword world.

  11. I meant to say that I, too, unlike muffin, liked the clue for HATHAWAY: one of my favourite clues [Araucaria, I think] involved ‘art teacher’ to clue TEA CHEST

  12. Thanks, PeterO.

    Good themed puzzle from Brendan, with his typically sound clues and plausible surfaces.

    I spotted most of the more obvious links, but thanks to Muffyword and Roger for some that I had missed. As well as the linked solutions, there are sundry references to police, crime, academics and the inspirational properties of drink sprinkled throughout the clues.

    My interpretation of 10a was a reference to both LEWIS Carroll and CS LEWIS – if it were just the latter, the ‘pseudonymous first’ would be meaningless – but I agree with rhotician @3 that the apostrophe seems misplaced.

    I liked the two different indications for the letter X in 13a and 23d. Unlike muffin @7, I though the clue for HATHAWAY was rather good.

  14. Thanks PeterO and Brendan. Although I have never read the books or seen the TV series, I still knew most of the themed answers. Worrying! On BEER (1dn): Colin Dexter was awarded the OBE in the Queen’s 2000 Birthday Honours List. Maybe this showed that she was a fan??

  16. Thanks PeterO and Brendan

    A typically well-crafted and amusing Brendan theme puzzle.

    I missed the Hathaway, Evans and Fox(ed) theme links.

    It was the tiniest shame that the excellent 17a could not have fitted in D.Phil (‘the other place’s version) 🙂

    Among other clues I liked were 7a (a cd worthy of Rufus), and 24a (not hard but an unlikely anagram and a very smooth surface).

  17. I’m another who never saw the TV series, but Morse references crop up so often in crosswords these days (or so it seems) that I was on the lookout for ENDEAVOUR et al as soon as 20a went in. Wot no Wagner?

    Didn’t know the HATHAWAY link though, so will keep an eye open next time the theme occurs.

  19. Enjoyed this and found it fairly straightforward despite being by no means an expert on Morse.

    Eileen @6 (and as molonglo @2 was probably also alluding to), we also had WHAT for THAW OUT in last Tuesday’s Philistine too so that makes 3 in 8 days. And THAW is in HaTHAWay too…

  20. Thanks all
    Dave @ 10, I have no idea who Jack Monroe is but over the past week or so that very same photo has popped up in several places.It attracted my attention because unlike Dave I could not decide on the character’s gender.

  22. Hi beery hiker @19 – thanks for that. I remembered the Puck one particularly because I blogged it but I don’t know how I forgot the Philistine.

  23. I see from Eileen’s Radio Times link that the writer of the Morse prequel Endeavour was another Lewis – Russell!

  24. Thankyou in particular to those who are unfamiliar with Morse but found the puzzle ok despite that. And to Roger for spotting WHAT-ELY and FOXed. The WHAT/THAW proliferation is outside my control.

    On 10 across, I interpret the clue as: [Oxford] writer’s pseudonymous first name [understood] and Oxford writer’s [understood] real last name
    OK, that’s a stretch.

    In the Morse documentary, an anecdote is told (“Morse, is he here?”) that makes it clear that HM is a fan.

  25. I enjoyed the puzzle despite never seeing the programme, so well done Brendan & thanks to PeterO. I work in a Treasury Department so I particularly liked 5D.

  28. Jeceris @ 26

    Something held back or reserved is said to be “on ice”, so when not reserved is “off ice?”.

  32. I was only vaguely familiar with the theme so I needed to rely on old-fashioned solving skills for all but the most obvious of the related answers. A very enjoyable puzzle. BEER was my LOI after RODE.

    Jeceris@26 – when something is reserved, i.e. ordered, it could be said to be “kept on ice”, so “off ice” could be interpreted as “not reserved?”, with the question mark in the clue denoting that it is a whimsical definition.

  34. I enjoyed the nostalgia for the TV series: completely forgot about books being FOXED as well as dog eared sometimes.

    Very enjoyable with too many good clues to pick a favourite.

    Thanks all.

  35. Another enjoyable puzzle from Brendan.

    As I was a great fan of the Dexter books and the TV series they engendered the theme was very obvious. I also was able to write in a lot of the clues without proper parsing.

    I was held up somewhat by some clues towards the end and the final parsing of the written in clues took longer than expected. So on balance I found this a little more difficult than some of Brendan’s recent offerings. (Which was welcome)

    Thanks to PeterO and Brendan

  37. Thanks Brendan and PeterO

    Really enjoyed this and it was harder than normal from this setter. Despite knowing that there would be a theme afterwards … I didn’t spot it having neither read the books or watched the TV series! It is to the setter’s credit that it didn’t impact the ability to still finish.

    Last ones in were OXFORD, AIRSCREWS and DASH after initially writing in ‘offish’ – to match oddish at 2d … but couldn’t parse it and then spotted the ha!

    Was able to get BEER after googling “Queen’s favourite TV show” which gave INSPECTOR MORSE …

    Many clever clues and a good workout … made even better when the busy theme was exposed !

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