It’s always a real pleasure to see Brendan’s name on a puzzle – and thank goodness he’s back more regularly again now.
The solving was quite straightforward but it soon became obvious that we have a theme, as usual with Brendan. This turned out to be a tribute to Umberto Eco, who died earlier this year [see his obituary here ] and whose name appears in the centre of the grid.
Eco’s first book was ‘the NAME of the ROSE’ and other works are ‘FOUCAULT’S PENDULUM’ and ‘The PRAGUE CEMETERY’, which was a BESTSELLER. He was Professor of SEMIOTICS at Bologna University and an EXEGETE. We also have a mini-theme of words which can be prefixed by ECO.
Altogether, a beautifully constructed puzzle, which was a joy to solve – many thanks to Brendan.
Across
9 Short program about English fruit producer (5,4)
APPLE TREE
APPLET [short program] + RE [about] + E [English]
10 Spy chief taken in by deception, in a sense (5)
SMELL
M [spy chief] in SELL [deception]
11 Standing before court (5)
ERECT
ERE [poetic before] + CT [court]
12 Travel with author’s son and private teacher (9)
GOVERNESS
GO [travel] + VERNES [author] + S [son]
13 Interpreter of text, say, kept in college mostly (7)
EXEGETE
EG [say] in EXETE[r] [Oxford college, mostly]
14 Organisations unknown in small parts of plant (7)
SYSTEMS
Y [unknown] in S [small] STEMS [parts of plant]
17 Bit of a bloomer finishes off chess game — mate (5)
SEPAL
[ches]S + [gam]E + PAL [mate]
19 Late genius that may prefix other solutions (3)
ECO
Double definition: ECO can be prefixed to several answers in the grid – SPHERE, SYSTEMS, TOURS
20 What poets generally do, Keats and Yeats don’t (5)
RHYME
Lovely cryptic definition – Keats and Yeats both rhyme individually but not with each other
21 National leader performing in moving protest (7)
MONARCH
ON [performing] in MARCH [moving protest]
22 Part of grounds and pitch where kids can play (7)
SANDPIT
Hidden in groundS AND PITch
24,18 Ruined couple’s mutual fund — that shows effect of world revolution (9,8)
FOUCAULT’S PENDULUM
Anagram of MUTUAL COUPLE’S FUND
26 Except for its head, river is brown (5)
UMBER
[h]UMBER [river except for its head]: if we add the first two letters of the next answer, we have Eco’s first name
28 Travels round city on Loire (5)
TOURS
Double definition
29 Languages such as Hebrew, including old study of signs (9)
SEMIOTICS
O [old] in SEMITICS [languages such as Hebrew]
Down
1 Celebrity of European person showing up here (4)
NAME
Reversal [showing up] of E [European] MAN [person]
2 Field hospital under pressure in dry setting (6)
SPHERE
H [hospital] under P [pressure] in SERE [dry]
3 Pound invested in lesser bet — oddly, it’s bound to make money (10)
BESTSELLER
L [pound] in an anagram [oddly] of LESSER BET – with a pun on ‘bound’
4 Pair contracted fever in capital (6)
PRAGUE
PR [pair contracted] + AGUE [fever]
5 Male put on a garment nothing stops (6,2)
HEAVES TO
HE [male] + A VEST [a garment] + O [nothing
6 Top player suffering reverse at first as leading man (4)
TSAR
STAR [top player] with the first two letters reversed
7 Leading pairs eliminated from race came late — very grave situation (8)
CEMETERY
[ra]CE [ca]ME [la]TE [ve]RY
8 Isolated state reduced, unfortunately (4)
ALAS
ALAS[ka] [isolated state, reduced]
13 Page in some novel set in town, of course (5)
EPSOM
P [page] in an anagram [novel] of SOME, for the town known for its racecourse
15 Suddenly put in the know, quietly call in child (6,4)
SPRING UPON
P [quietly] RING UP [call] in SON [child]
16 Not dry, like 10 of 27, regardless of 1 (5)
SWEET
A reference to the lines from Romeo and Juliet:
‘What’s in a NAME? That which we call a ROSE
By any other name* would SMELL as sweet.’ [*or word]
The definition applies to wine
19 Flaws in conclusions from some idiotic ass without sound reflection (8)
ECHOLESS
HOLES [flaws] in last letters [conclusions] of [som]E [idioti]C [as]S
22 Notice about South American oil source (6)
SESAME
SEE [notice] round S [south] AM [American]
23 Piano I installed in disorderly club open to all (6)
PUBLIC
P [piano] + I in an anagram [disorderly] of CLUB – great surface
24 Fellow scoffed a lot (4)
FATE
F [fellow] + ATE [scoffed]
25 Primate set over south part of church (4)
APSE
APe [primate] round S [south]
27 Pink was revolting (4)
ROSE
Double definition – reminding me to recommend again Sandy Balfour’s book about his life with crosswords, ‘Pretty girl in crimson rose (8)’
“Lucky” Eileen’s prologue sums up the solving experience of this lovely puzzle very nicely.
Thanks to both Brendan and Eileen too.
What a lovely cryptic – I read Name of the Rose a couple of months ago – an amazing novel. On another theme, 20a and 7d brought to mind The Smiths’ song Cemetry Gates: “so I meet your at the cemetry gates / Keats and Yeats are on your side”
Thanks Eileen for the blog and Brendan for a lovely puzzle.
Senor Eco is one of my favourite authors – and, dare I say it, one likely to appeal to crossword lovers.
I wondered whether there is something else going on here. I spotted sandPIT and the Pendulum, Prague Spring and EChOless (what we are since the death of the genius.) Are there any more, I wonder?
I agree – a lovely puzzle from Brendan on a theme that really appealed (to me at least); thanks also to Eileen for the (as always) very helpful blog.
I’m never very good on “sounds like” clues (due to hearing problems – I often can’t distinguish words that should sound different): so please take the following comment with a pinch of salt. I wondered if “echoless” in 19 down reflected the fact that we are now “eco-less” (as it were!).
Thanks for that, Rick @4 – I’m sure you’re right.
I’d only vaguely heard of the author, but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this puzzle.
I didn’t get 13a, not knowing the word and not finding 4 Es particularly helpful.
Thanks to s & b.
Really enjoyable and cleverly crafted puzzle. I loved seeing the theme emerge.
I particularly relished my PDM – the anagram at 24a and 18d, FOUCAULT’S PENDULUM.
Can you believe I am trying to teach exegesis to Aussie 16 year olds at the moment – developing their skills in unpacking the Hebrew and Christian scriptures – thus making each one an EXEGETE (13a). They like me labelling them with such a highbrow description!
Aside from the theme solves, I still like simple answers like 10a SMELL and 24d FATE.
Many thanks to Brendan and Eileen, and other members of the online community.
Much more of a delight than yester, and fun to solve throughout – despite one of the most cerebral themes I can remember. There’s some really clever clueing here, with the sustained omission of the leading pairs making CEMETERY at the top of the tree. But no cleverness for its own sake.
EXEGETE was new to me, and last in as Oxbridge colleges don’t trip off the tongue (despite the best efforts of University Challenge).
Minor grumble time: ‘some’ in 19a is only three. Not very many really.
Thanks to Brendan and Eileen.
I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t link NAME and ROSE, despite this being such a delightful book (and film.)
Lots to like about this crossword; a well worked theme and some super clues.
Not yester but yesterday. Auto complete, the writer’s sauna oops satnav.
Thank you Brendan for a great puzzle, lovely theme, and thank you Eileen for a super blog, especially for the reminder at 16d of the lines from Romeo and Juliet.
Like Rullytully @6, I did not know the word EXEGETE, but I found the Es helpful since my late husband’s college came to mind.
The clue for RHYME was outstanding.
Another work of art from Brendan – enjoyed this and found it fairly straightforward. EXEGETE was new to me and it took me a while to believe my alma mater could be clued as “college” – it has never been one of Oxford’s more famous ones though it is quite old and it does have a few distinguished alumni. SPRING UPON was last in. Floreat Exon…
Thanks to Eileen and Brendan.
Thanks Eileen. I think you have a slight typo in 14 ac; the def is “organisations” not “parts of plant”.
What’s left to say? Another quality puzzle from Brendan.Beautifully crafted
and a lot of fun. What more can one ask?
Thanks Brendan.
Thank you, jeceris – amended now.
Beautiful. I particularly appreciate the elegance of some of short, simple clues, such as 11, 24d, 27.
Thanks everyone, all-seeing Eileen in particular — I’m happy you spotted UMBER-TO.
There are some great talks by him on YouTube.
Many thanks, Brendan, for dropping in – I’m not happy that I didn’t spot ECHOLESS!
Thanks all
As usual the theme passed me by entirely, hence I failed to get eco.Last in was Foucaults Pendulum Most enjoyable 20across
Thanks Brendan and Eileen
Challenging, but with lots of excellent clues and clever theme(s). My particular favourites were SANDPIT (I love a well-concealed “hidden”), SWEET and ECHOLESS.
The only one I didn’t like was EXEGETE. It is an obscure word (meaning “I didn’t know it”), and “college mostly” for EXETE is rather obscure too.
Enjoyed this and was happy to complete it. Only unravelled Foucault’s pendulum towards the end which gave me the theme and the answer to 19a. Very clever and much fun.
Many thanks Brendan and Eileen
Excellent. Thanks Brendan and Eileen.
Thank you Brendan and Eileen for a great crossword and blog respectively. As I said yesterday I am not a fan of themed puzzles and if you had not read Umberto Eco this would be difficult!! But unlike Tramp yesterday where, for instance, if you could not remember Dora Spenlow you had to resort to some kind of cheat recourse, these clues were all more or less solvable from the word play!!
I have long been fascinated by the last line of The Name of the Rose, which is if memory serves: ‘Stat rosa pristina nomine, nomina nuda tenemus’, a quote from Bernard of Morlay. But no two Latin experts that I have spoken to seem to agree as to the correct translation and meaning. There would appear to be several Latin Scholars who visit this blog and indeed the writer of the Blog, Eileen is a teacher of Latin I believe, so can someone help me out, please?
I would say that in their own way we have had three good puzzles this week so far!! Who tomorrow I wonder?
S Panza @23
Hands up – you have caught me out!
I have never read ‘The name of the rose’, though it has been on my list for years. It’s one of those books that you think you know about and therefore, according to the various lists on the internet, people ‘pretend to have read’. I’m pretty sure I’ve never made such a claim about any book but I have a lamentable list to catch up on [and precious little time]. After today, this one has moved to the top of my list. I’m sorry I can’t help with your query in the meantime!
Hi Eileen
If you can get past the description of the door, you should make it to the end. The film version is much more digestible, though (and has a happier ending!)
“Foucault’s pendulum” is a much more satisfying read, I think.
After a long time trying to get the 24,18 anagram, the answer suddenly appeared – it’s the book I’m currently reading!
I was also surprised at Exeter being the example of a college – despite having gone there, I admit it’s hardly a household name!
Hi beery hiker @12 and Mr Beaver @26
Two of our alumni in one day? – can’t be too obscure! Congratulations both! 🙂
Spanza I have to take issue (though I hope for good reason) with your comment that this puzzle would be difficult for someone who hadn’t read the books. I haven’t, but this crossword was so well clued that it didn’t matter. This was a crossword in which the theme was done in a very unobtrusive way, so the theme tail wasn’t wagging the crossword dog. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a matter of technique. The setter of yesterday’s puzzle was very frankrank about it being an early effort, and I think that’s the key.
PS 20 was classy.
Got stamens instead of systems and then failed to spring upon. Drat! Defeated again.
David @29
Yes, indeed – two of my top favourite poets
I missed the theme even though I’m familiar with some of his work so the book titles should have given it away. ECO was my LOI. EXEGETE was new to me too, but deducible from “exegesis”. I loved RHYME, though it is not entirely true that the names don’t rhyme as they form an “eye rhyme”. There are too many good clues to list other favourites.
Thanks, Brendan and Eileen.
Thank you Eileen and Brendan
This was very enjoyable, and I am sorry to say that even though I am a huge fan of Umberto Eco, I did not catch the theme until the very end when I solved Foucault’s Pendulum.
My favourites were CEMETERY, ECHOLESS and I loved the cleverness of 16d – at that stage, I was thinking of Shakespeare, not Eco!
I have done 4 crosswords today, trying to catch up a bit – Rufus, Hectence’s Quiptic, Brendan and Nutmeg – that’s enough for today 🙂
Yes indeed, a “beautifully constructed” puzzle, as stated in preamble (but for the extraneous ‘set in’ in 13dn it might have been perfect – perhaps that’s just me?).
I thought RHYME delightful.
I was given ‘The Name of the Rose’ back in the early ’90s but it remains, unloved, on a bookshelf. My ‘to read’ list of dozens upon dozens of great books (and time is indeed running out; isn’t it annoying the way it always does that?!) but, like our esteemed blogger, the order may now be shuffled….
Many thanks to Brendan and Eileen (I hadn’t noticed the Umber-To; my excuse – that umber is not a ‘proper’ rhyme with the author’s surname’s first two syllables as I mentally hear the Italian pronunciation).
….And, of course I meant Christian (or given) name, not surname….!
William F P @34
“…umber is not a ‘proper’ rhyme with the author’s surname’s first two syllables as I mentally hear the Italian pronunciation).”
Of course – but why does it need to be a homophone?
I’m not generally a fan of themed puzzles but this one passed me by completely and didn’t detract from an enjoyable solve. I wouldn’t personally describe Umberto Eco as a genius
Eileen @ 36. Perhaps I wasn’t clear. I think the reason I didn’t spot the umber-to…. was because when I wrote it in what I heard in my mind’s ear didn’t chime with Umberto Eco’s name. At least, that’s the only logical reason I can think of since visually they are the same. Perhaps if I’d taken longer to complete it, or perused post-solve, I would have spotted it….. Is not the revelation of such oversights one of our site’s beauties? This is why I thanked you for noting it!
…..and UMBER may have been one of the first clues solved, before the theme had unfolded. Difficult to recall as I read your blog some time after I solved (which I did rather swiftly over a hastily snatched sandwich at lunchtime). It’s odd how the brain works – maybe I’d have noticed the link had ‘umber’ rhymed audibly, albeit internally, with first two syllables of ‘Umberto’. Phew! Wx
Lovely puzzle, beautifully constructed and elegantly clued. Many thanks to Brendan and Eileen.
William F P @ 38/39
I’m sorry, I misunderstood. I actually didn’t notice it until I wrote up the blog and typed TOURS underneath UMBER, which, of course, is not how they appeared in the grid, so for me it was a visual thing.
I’ve heard the name Umberto Eco but know nothing about him. I still got every solution except EXEGETE. Is that a more or less impressive feat?
Thanks Eileen and Brendan.
Neither have I read any Umberto Eco books but I had heard of The Name of The Rose and Foucaults Pendulum so had no issues with what was a very pleasant solve.
Not having been to University, my knowledge of the names of Oxbridge colleges is limited to Inspector Morse, Grantchester, and most importantly University Challenge. I don’t recall Exeter College ever having put forward a team but a quick check to verify was all it took.
Thanks again.
Thanks Brendan and Eileen
This was my first Brendan for quite a long time and definitely my first Guardian puzzle that I have solved on line !! Both experiences of which I enjoyed immensely !
Delightful handling of a theme as usual by this setter where it is totally unobtrusive for the general solving of the puzzle but can be an immense help if one happens to twig to it during the process. Got ECO at around the 3/4 way stage although didn’t spot the words that it could prefix in the grid, so thanks for that. It helped get my last one in, FOCOULT’S PENDULUM, which was an anagram that was not making a lot of sense prior to that.
Did start reading The Name of the Rose a few years ago but got distracted and put it aside again. Like others here, I should now have another crack at it ! Four months on I wonder how many of you did!
That would be FOUCAULT’S PENDULUM of course :-/
Five months on I’ve just read your note, Bruce. I read The Name of the Rose many years ago and don’t remember much about it, haven’t read any of the others.