Guardian Cryptic 27,307 by Brendan

by

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27307.

A very literary puzzle from Brendan, an extended riff on authors and families – real, fictional (even Big Brother!), sometimes both. I found it a fair (in both senses) struggle, with the allusions to fictional families in 20A and 25A my last entries.

Across
8 ROSSETTI Poet, otherwise sister to poet and painter (8)
An anagram (‘otherwise’) of ‘sister to’, with an extended double definition: Christina and brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti
9 ALCOTT American who had four sisters in family in rural cottage (6)
A hidden answer in ‘rurAL COTTage’. Louisa May ALCOTT wrote Little Women about four sisters, based loosely on her own family (herself and her three sisters).
10 LEAR Humorous writer, tragic figure abused by children (4)
Double definition: Edward, and King Lear – abused by Regan and Goneril, two of his children, not children in general.
11 CHESTERTON Poet and novelist whose father was a detective (10)
A cryptic definition: Gilbert Keith CHESTERTON wrote the Father Brown stories, about a detective priest.
12 GRIMMS Brothers putting together macabre writing (6)
A charade of GRIM (‘macabre’) plus MS (manuscript, ‘writing’), for the brothers Jacob and Wilhelm, best remembered for Grimms’ Fairy Tales.
14 MORTIMER Mother dismissing the recorder of minutes for legal writer (8)
A charade of ‘mo[the]r’ minus the THE (‘dismissing the’) plus TIMER (‘recorder of minutes’!), for John Mortimer, barrister and author.
15 BENNETT Novelist repeating conclusion reached by member of 22 across’s family (7)
The Bennets are the family of Pride and Prejudice by Jane AUSTEN (’22 across’). Double the last letter (‘repeating conclusion’) for BENNETT, most likely the ‘novelist’ Arnold.
17 NABOKOV A book revised in new volume for son of Russian statesman (7)
An envelope (‘in’) of ABOKO, an anagram (‘revised’) of ‘a book’) in N V (‘new volume’), for Vladimir, authot of Lolita.
20 LAWRENCE Source of novel combination of children and partners (8)
A cryptic allusion to Sons and Lovers by D H LAWRENCE.
22 AUSTEN Novelist finding little energy in dotty aunts (6)
An envelope (‘finding … in’) of E (‘little energy’) in AUSTN, an anagram (‘dotty’) of ‘aunts’.
23 DOSTOEVSKY He wrote about brothers in party changing votes – heavens! (10)
A charade of DO (‘party’) plus STOEV, an anagram (‘changing’) of ‘votes’ plus SKY (‘heavens’). The name of the author of The Brothers Karamazov is more often transliterated as Dostoyevsky.
24 AMIS Friends of French literary father and son (4)
Double definition: French for ‘friends’, and the authors, ‘father and son’ Kingsley and Martin Amis.
25 ORWELL Etonian yearbook author whose elder sibling saw everything (6)
Another cryptic allusion, to 1984 by George ORWELL, and its famous slogan “Big Brother is watching you”.
26 KINGSLEY Martin’s father, 19th-century novelist (8)
Double definition: the first name of ‘Martin’s father’ – 24A AMIS again – and Charles KINGSLEY, the author of The Water-Babies and Westward Ho! among other works.
Down
1 COME TRUE Happen in company encountered on way from Paris (4,4)
A charade of CO (‘company’) plus MET (‘encountered’) plus RUE (‘way from Paris’).
2 TSAR Ruler initially used in producing triangle, square and rectangle (4)
First lettters of (‘initialy used in producing’) ‘Triangle Square And Rectangle’.
3 STICKS Spears and bows (6)
Double definition, the second being the bow for a violin, say.
4 DILEMMA Cover up work of 22 across that’s problematic (7)
A charade of DIL, a reversal (‘up’ in a down light) of LID (‘cover’) plus EMMA (‘work of 22 across’, Jane AUSTEN).
5 BACTERIA Cause of illness in kind of camel endlessly needing drug injected (8)
An envelope (‘needing …. injected’) of E (‘drug’) in BACTRIA[n] (‘kind of camel’) minus its last letter (‘endlessly’).
6 SCURRILOUS Offensive son, eager to learn about right, left separately (10)
A charade of S (‘son’) plus CURIOUS (‘eager to learn’) with R and L inserted (‘about right, left separately’).
7 STOOGE Performer’s assistant goes to pieces when given new order (6)
An anagram (‘when given new order’ – ‘pieces’ to indicate the letters of the fodder) of ‘goes to’.
13 MINORITIES Relatively small groups one newcomer upset in digs (10)
An envelope (‘in’) of ORITI, a reversal (‘upset’) of I (‘one’) plus TIRO (‘newcomer’ – tyro is an alternative spelling) in MINES (‘digs’).
16 TENDERLY In loving way, making proposal, with lady taking no notice (8)
A charade of TENDER (‘proposal’) plus ‘l[ad]y’ minus AD (‘taking no notice’).
18 ONE-LINER Singular craft seen in short humorous piece (3-5)
Definition and literal interpretation.
19 NETSUKE Clearly produces Hawaiian instrument or Japanese ornament (7)
A charade of NETS (‘clearly produces’ – slightly cryptic) plus UKE (ukulele, ‘Hawaiian instrument’).
21 ABOARD On vessel overseas with king going south (6)
ABROAD (‘overseas’) with the R (‘king’) moved down (going south’).
22 ANYONE In a US city married undistinguished person (6)
A charade of ‘a’ plus NY (we have had arguments over this before – New York City is more often NYC, and NY the State, but NY sometimes refers to the ‘US city’) plus ONE (‘married’).
24 ALSO Fail as boy, being oddly deficient in addition (4)
Even letters (‘being oddly deficient’) of ‘fAiL aS bOy’.
completed grid

67 comments on “Guardian Cryptic 27,307 by Brendan”

  2. Might not be to everyone’s taste, with the oblique references to the authors’ works, but I enjoyed that.

    Couldn’t parse LAWRENCE because – inexplicably – I was thinking T.E. not D.H.

    Thanks, Brendan and PeterO.

  4. The surprising thing I learnt in this puzzle was that George Orwell went to Eton. Seems out of character. Obviously his legacy didn’t rub off on Boris Johnson.

  5. VDSP@3 Yes Kingsley Amis is 2oth C and Martin’s father. Charles Kingsley is 19thC as PeterO blogged(thanks Peter).

  8. It’s very neat that all the across answers are writers, and none of the down ones. Realising this would have helped me to get LAWRENCE quicker (last one in). Altogether an elegant and satisfying puzzle.

  9. I’ve come to the conclusion I’m not a fan of this style of themed crossword which can almost be solved from GK alone. Maybe I missed something but I found the cryptic part of the definitions lacking intrigue, and I let that influence my view of the non-literary down clues and felt a bit grumpy and disengaged with the whole thing.
    I look forward to alternative views being expressed here to help me reappraise this puzzle.
    In the meantime thanks to Brendan and PeterO.

  10. A nice idea as always from Brendan. Quite enjoyable but for those of us who know our writers, very easy (at least to gridfill – there were a few I probably didn’t parse properly). My last in was MORTIMER.

    Thanks to Brendan and PeterO

  11. Thanks Brendan, PeterO
    Well done Epeolater @1 for getting in first with a thumbs-up.
    After getting the first couple of acrosses, I was a bit worried, but ended up being thoroughly won over. I found most of the cryptic definitions for the authors to be cute and just cryptic enough, and though I’m by no means familiar with all, they’re all mainstream enough so that, for example, ‘son of Russian statesman’ was no hindrance. It took me far too long to get ORWELL and ALCOTT (didn’t even spot it in the clue after getting it) and mistyped ALOS for ALSO so KINGSLEY was last in. Favourite author clues: ROSSETTI, GRIMMS, ORWELL. I also really liked ALSO, TENDERLY and STOOGE

  12. I quite enjoyed it, but I sympathise with WhiteKing’s view that some of the across clues aren’t really cryptic in the normal sense of the word, but more slightly oblique references to general knowledge.

  13. I’m afraid this was not one I enjoyed. A bit of a write-in if literature is your thing, but I don’t think all the clues work as cryptic. I think you need to know too much about the books and authors (e.g 10a 15a).

    Thanks Brendan and Peter.

  14. Found this very heavy going. NETSUKE was a new word for me, which I was forced to Google, and I also failed on LAWRENCE for some reason. In my defense, it’s 4 a.m. here.

    Also in my defense perhaps, I read Sons and Lovers in school, and it was the only time I ever read a book for which I was forced to come up with an idea for a paper but I had nothing of any kind to say. I guess that makes Mr. Lawrence forgettable for me.

    I am unfamiliar with the 19th-century KINGSLEY, which I got on the strength of Mr. AMIS, or the novelist BENNETT, which I got on the strength of the family from Pride and Prejudice.

  16. I loved it but then literature is my thing. I thought it was one of the cleverest puzzles I have done in ages. Those brilliant touches such as the “four sisters” for 9a ALCOTT, the Father Brown reference for 11a CHESTERTON, the Rumpole reference for MORTIMER the “legal writer” in 14a, the “children and partners” for Lawrence in 20a, and the “Big Brother” who knew everything in the ORWELL clue (25a) were simply delicious.

    I appreciate what others have said about the knowledge base needed to solve the across clues. So I have to resile from previous statements made on this forum which contributed to the debate about general/specialist knowledge in crosswords, in which I expressed disappointment in an opera-themed crossword. In the case of this Brendan offering, though, I didn’t think any of the writers were too obscure, so I agree with this point about the answers being “mainstream enough” made by James@11.

    The down clues, not being literature-based except for 4d DILEMMA, might have assisted those less familiar with the writers theme to get useful crossers and therefore solve the across clues using some of the word plays.

    My favourites are as aforementioned, but I did like some down clues too: 1d COME TRUE, 13d MINOTITIES, AND 16d TENDERLY.

    A million thanks to Brendan for a challenge that was right up my alley, and to PeterO for the blog.

  17. Can’t believe how many are being down on this, in my view, absolutely brilliant offering. At least the comments have spurred me to write. I’m with Julie @16. How tribal we are! I have a tiny reservation and am almost reluctant to mention it. I had to press the check button for 12 ac as the Grimms are always known as the Brothers Grimm, though I suppose there’s no reason why logically they shouldn’t be known as the Grimms. Thanks Brendan. Loved it. And to PeterO. Btw, had to move to my computer as the blog is too wide for my iPhone. Don’t know if anyone else had the same problem.

  19. I’m amazed I got any. Very clever grid fill, with writers in all across clues, as mentioned above.

    I really liked TSAR. Clues like KINGSLEY, though, left me cold as basically double GK.

    This type of cryptic puzzle is typical of the TLS (Times Literary Supplement) – had I heard that it was being discontinued? I wonder…

    An excellent puzzle I’m sure, I just don’t belong to the niche for which it was intended.

    Thanks very much Brendan, and congratulations PeterO for deciphering it.

  20. Well said Julie @16 and xjpotter @17 – yes, there is some GK there but nothing that ought to be too specialised for an intelligent audience. As for the objections to needing to know something about King LEAR or the BENNETs – you don’t need to have read anything, just to have absorbed a little popular culture via TV/film versions – in fact I have read less than half of these writers. I have seen a few different spellings of DOSTOEVSKY but none of them would parse…

  21. Well, I must admit I was a little disappointed with this. Brendan usually has a subtle theme one must enjoy discovering; here it was right in your face.

    I thought some of the CDs were “worthy” of the CD lite end of Rufus: “whose father was a detective”, for example.

    Thanks PeterO and Brendan.

  22. Thanks Brendan; great setting to get in all the authors in a horrible grid.

    Thanks PeterO; I agree that some of the CDs were barely such, and needed GK to solve. At least some BACTERIA crept in here. This is obviously a horses-for-courses one, which appealed to the literati, which seeing ROSSETTI and BENNETT I tried to spell as literatti, doh!

  24. I’m another Eng. Lit. freak, so I enjoyed this puzzle very much. It took me ages to see how 20a worked, and even then I bamboozled myself for a while, getting hooked on ‘Wives and Daughters’ rather than ‘Sons and Lovers’. I understand that some solvers don’t like themed puzzles, especially when the theme is outside their comfort zone, and agree that, sometimes, the definition element of the clues suffers a little, but I think that – where the theme is so obvious and consistent – the compilers deserve some latitude.
    Thanks Brendan for a good start to the day, and to PeterO cor the customary exemplary blog.

  25. This is a pro-Rufus post, rather than an anti-Brendan one, but there’s plenty in this crossword that would have led to Monday morning calls for the setter to be strung up. Not even barely cryptic clues (10a, 24a, 26a), imperfect constructions (16a – “taking notice”, not “taking no notice”, 22d – “married” isn’t in a US city, it is behind it), inelegant cryptic definition (20a). None of these particularly affected my enjoyment of the puzzle, but perhaps Rufus ought to work harder to include more references to literary figures to reduce the hostility we have tiresomely got used to on the Monday blog.

  26. Interesting divergence of views, which is no bad thing. I became a big fan of Virgilius when this setter was still setting under that name for the Indy. Couldn’t do them at first, but once you saw where he was coming from it got more tractable.

    So I’m prepared to cut him some slack as Brendan with this one, although I can see some folks’ point about the GK bits. I was entertained by it and liked the theme, so my satisfaction was twofold when I finally finished it.

    Thanks to Brendan and PeterO, both residents now of the USA if I am right, for winging the puzzle and the blog across the pond.

  27. Thanks to Brendan and PeterO.

    I thought it was a very fair puzzle – all the literary references were to writers/works that are known, so the GK element was limited. Nothing worse than seeing totally obscure names that I’d never heard of. 25a was an inspired clue – I too was unaware that Orwell went to Eton.

  28. I’ve had more insights into where my dissatisfaction with this puzzle stems from. It is not that GK is required to solve it (or at least no specialist literary knowledge is needed – all crosswords require GK in some way), but that once the theme is apparent (as it was with this one from the start) then the fun of working out what is the definition and what is there as fodder or misdirection has been taken away.
    Yesterday’s Vlad had some great (as well as some over-complicated) clues where the definition could have been either the beginning or end of the clue and teasing out alternative interpretations of the words in the clue led to some real aha moments where the cleverness came from seeing things in a different way. In the across clues I knew I was looking for a literary solution, and once I’d got it it was then about de-crypting the cryptic part.
    I’m not complaining about the inclusion of this type of puzzle, or trying to take anything away from any one else’s enjoyment, and I do appreciate the skill of the setter to put it together. As Kathryn’s Dad@26 says divergence of views is no bad thing – I’d go further and say it is a good thing!

  29. I’m amongst those who found the lack of word play (as opposed to cryptic references to works) frustrating but each to their own.

    Can anyone explain to me why ONE is given by MARRIED in 22d?

  30. Thanks to Brendan for restricting the heavy handed theme to the across clues. Half a cryptic is better than nothing!

  31. In spite of being a complete literary moron, I found this very enjoyable. ORWELL was the only one where my literary ignorance defeated me.

  32. After completing yesterday’s offering by Vlad, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I thought to myself, “what could top this on Wednesday … something by Brendan, perhaps?” And BOOM, here it was! Brendan is one of my favorites, and this puzzle did not disappoint. I echo the praises expressed by, among others, Julie @16, xjpotter @17, and beery @20 (while acknowledging, as they and others have done, that some GK relating to these writers’ names and works was advantageous for solving). I found it impressive not only that every single across answer was a writer’s name, but that all of those answers were clued with surfaces that mentioned family members. Based on the grid, I searched for a Nina(s) around the perimeter, but I don’t think that any of the novels or poems by CTSDBSS TNRVNSY ever attained much popularity! Many thanks to Brendan and PeterO.

  34. I echo what Julie (@16), Xjpotter (@17) and others have said – I loved the literary theme, although I understand also the comments from those who found either the theme too pervasive or the crossword too easy. I think making every across solution a literary figure was a worthy accomplishment, and like Julie I very much enjoyed the cryptic references to the works of some of these poets and novelists.

    As Xjpotter mentioned, 12a GRIMMS looked a bit strange, as they are nearly always called the Brothers Grimm, but having looked them up I find that they can also be called the Grimms – not necessarily in a colloquial way.

    My literary knowledge is not great, but I understood most of the references, and I’m grateful to the blogger and other commenters for further enlightenment.

    [This kind of puzzle is quite rare: I think the last crossword I did in which all the across answers were themed was the Saints puzzle by Pasquale on All Saints Day (1 Nov) 2016.]

    Thanks to Brendan for an enjoyable crossword.

  35. I thoroughly enjoyed this, though I needed help to get BENNETT. I’m a sucker for a themed puzzle, or a themed anything, actually, as long as the theme isn’t something totally out of reach. All these authors were more familiar to me than the grumpy old man in a sitcom from the nineties. British TV is definitely my GK downfall.

    And a nod to the human GK at 11 across.

  36. Whatever complaints anyone has( I agree that “abused by children” was a bit off-piste but obvious what the answer was) it was a delight compared with Gozo who managed to find several composers that I have never heard of and music is a main subject of mine.I didnt mind his car theme a while ago but that was a weekend thing.Gozo is a barman who only serves one drink.
    This may not have been Brendan’s most perfect puzzle but it was still by far the best of the day.

  37. No complaints from me, even though my literary knowledge is not what it should be. I prefer themes to be hidden in the answers, but it was a good challenge to try to work out the authors from the family related wordplay. Liked the clues for LAWRENCE and ORWELL particularly and for my education I learnt that all was not happy families in the King LEAR household – very useful to know I’m sure.

    Thanks to Brendan and PeterO.

  38. VW @ 25: In fairness to Brendan, “taking no notice” can reasonably be interpreted as “having no notice” (e.g. “I don’t take/have sugar”), and the “in” of 22 surely means that the answer can be found “in” A NY ONE. Still, I agree 100% with your general point – for as long as I can remember (and not just on this board) some setters are forgiven or even praised for things that would land other setters in the doghouse.

    Nice to see the creator of Rumpole get a mention among the literary lions!

  40. copmus @36 – whatever pain you are still feeling, please add a dig in the ribs for revealing the theme of a crossword that is still very current.

  41. Thanks, PeterO – great blog.

    I had to go out soon after solving this, when there were few comments posted, but I find myself agreeing with practically every word of Julie’s post @16 – thanks for saving me lots of typing!

    And many thanks to Brendan for a highly enjoyable puzzle – brilliant to get all those family relationships in!

  42. Thanks to Brendan and PeterO. I have nothing to add to the GK debate, other than this puzzle provided one of the rare occasions where I was in my comfort zone and not challenged by references to UK TV, musical groups, sports terms, or geography. Lots of fun.

  43. As always there is more than initially meets my eye. Despite it being very obvious I hadn’t noticed that all the across clues referred to family members which adds to my appreciation for the setter’s art. I think wilful blindness (or Victor Meldrew-ness) took over me in this one.

  44. Nice puzzle, thanks Brendan and PeterO.
    Interesting coincidence at 25 and 26. I got KINGSLEY at 26 from the Martin (Amis) reference, but wonder if there is also a nod to Kingsley Martin (editor of New Statesman for 30 years), particularly as KM had a long-standing feud with ORWELL, alongside at 25. Pure speculation of course, but I also wonder if Kingsley Amis was thinking of KM when Martin was named, before he veered to the right in later life.

  45. My first thought after reading the posts was- suppose they’d all been sportsmen. If they had I’d still be scratching my head and muttering about GK! As it wasn’t I was pleased with this,despite it being rather a quick solve. Brendan’s puzzles are always elegant and this was no exception.
    Incidentally, as I got to MORTIMER,RUMPOLE came on the radio. Spooky or what?
    Thanks Brendan.

  46. Thoroughly enjoyable. We agreed with Julie and others, especially after the tortuous Vlad yesterday. Like others we had to google Orwell to see if he could really be an Etonian. His wiki page is fascinating. Thanks Brendan and Peter O

  47. Thanks Brendan and PeterO

    (I’m late to this, so I haven’t read all the comments – apologies if it has been said before).
    What to say? The across clues weren’t “crossword” clues; they were GK (I except the lovely clue for MORTIMER, my favourite today). The only one that wasn’t a write-in for me was ORWELL, as I didn’t know that Eric Blair had gone to Eton. Fortunately it all made for a very rapid solve.

  50. Sorry. I still don’t get the OWELL parsing. Why “Etonian yearbook”. Is that just a very annoying way of saying old Etonian?

  51. Orwell went to Eton, and wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four, which is a “year book”, so he’s an “Etonian yearbook author”

    Name-drop time: Orwell (or Eric Blair as he was at the time) was an exact contemporary of a great-uncle of mine at Eton.

  52. This was a good crossword.

    With the exception of Rossetti, I had read books/poems by all the authors in the crossword, so this made the crossword easier than usual – at least for me.

    Two clues I was slightly unhappy about: 3dn (sticks) and 25ac (Orwell).

  53. What a dog’s breakfast!

    Truly awful.

    This was Brendan’s worst ever puzzle which our illustrious ed should have returned to him with an admonitory note. (not very likely!)

    P.S. I didn’t like this 😉

  54. I thought I would add a word of extra praise for the definition in 17a. NABOKOV was the son of a “Russian statesman”. He also was the son of a Russian, and he later became a naturalized U.S. citizen — i.e., a “States-man”. I believe (?) Brendan’s choice of wording was intended to lend itself to both of these interpretations!

  56. I’ve been following this site for a long time but have never commented, as by the time I’ve finished everyone has said all there is to say.
    However, today I have something to add. I managed to miss the King Lear reference in 10ac as I was thinking of ‘How pleasant to know Mr Lear’ https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/how-pleasant-to-know-mr-lear/ Poor Mr Lear was abused by local children when he went out in his nightgown. I could recite it all when my children were small!

    And I did enjoy Brendan’s offering, even though I was 2 clues short of completing it.

  57. Samacais @56

    Welcome, and thanks for pointing out the extra layer to 10A – the title of the poem rang a bell for me, but that is as far as it went.

  59. For myself, I react to comments like those of BNTO (53) with an equanimity that he or she might find disappointing.
    It does annoy me, however, that she or he implicitly insults my editor and everyone else who expressed approval of the puzzle.

  60. Glad to hear from you, Brendan/Brian. Thank you for your contribution and, again, for a most enjoyable puzzle.

    I certainly felt insulted but not disturbed by the comment @53. As you say, there is no acknowledgement in that post of the positive reception of your puzzle by many solvers on the forum. Comparing such a comment with the gracious open-mindedness of some of those who didn’t find it their cup of tea, such as WhiteKing @9, 28 and 43 to name but one, makes me realise yet again that serial complainers like the afore-mentioned Victor Meldrew (Vlad’s puzzle yesterday) are of a type.

    I have much more respect for participants in this online community who can argue a cogent viewpoint either “for” or “against”. I think we need to be reminded sometimes that it’s not sheepstations we’re playing for…

  61. Brian/Brendan @59

    I’m sorry for having an opinion!

    You are one of my favourite setters but I really didn’t like this puzzle at all. The clues wrere far too wordy for me and the most of it read like a General Knowledge puzzle with a only a slight hint of “crypsis” 😉 (see comments on a puzzle in the last couple of weeks)

    I don’t see how an honest expression of an opinion can insult anybody who had already expressed praise for this puzzle. Why should anybody give a flying **** what I think?

    I only express these opinions on here as I feel that the current lack of direction for the Guardian Cryptic puzzle is worrying. There are a few like minded lurkers on here and I might as well be ignored here as somewhere else.

    Keep up the good work.

    Illegitimi non carborundum (Myself included 🙂 )

  62. I loved it too and found the cluing original and fun. Favourite was Orwell which took ages to get, but a delight when the penny dropped. Stumped only on Lawrence

  63. Julie @ 16: I usually skip your extensive (IMO) comments but was moved to read this one as so many agreed with you. I have to say that I do agree with you in spite of having to look up several of the authors.

    Favourites when I did see the answers were ORWELL and LAWRENCE and kicked myself for not getting them.

    Also, well said @ 60

  64. Well said Brian @59. BNTO – When 95% of your comments are so utterly negative, not to mention predictable (and yes, I have seen the occasional exceptions, and I know that many of mine are predictable too), you shouldn’t be surprised when setters occasionally choose to stand up to you. I won’t defend the editor on his lack of attention to detail, but most of us appreciate the diversity of the puzzles he chooses.

  65. Julie @60
    On a blog with such an interesting exchange of views as this one, from contributors who were either delighted or underwhelmed by this crossword, you were right, as was Brendan just before you, to call out the one comment that was gratuitously negative.
    Having a robust view of the day’s crossword is one thing, but to give it in such an unreasoned way is out of order.
    Thank you for your own robust comment.
    [I wrote this comment up to here earlier, without having read BNTO’s response. But what I say still stands.]

  66. I rarely comment as my solve usually takes many days, but I enjoyed this so much that I persisted late into the night.

    Had to cheat on ORWELL and then and read up his life on Wikipedia trying to parse the clue . Completely missed “elder sibling” = Big Brother. What a brilliant clue especially now, thanks to Andrew@51, I see that “yearbook” refers to 1984.

    Thank you Brendan – it’s always a delight to see your name, and to PeterO for help with parsing.

  67. Alan B @65

    Thanks Alan I’ve never been called gratuitously negative before. I think I like it 😉

    Of course my original comment was Given or obtained for nothing; not earned or paid for; free. however it certainly wasn’t 2 Uncalled for, unwarranted, unjustifiable; done or acting without a good or assignable reason; motiveless..

    It was just an honest gut reaction to a puzzle I had just finished.

    I also still stand by my two comments.

Comments are closed.