Serpent tests the old grey matter today.
As expected, this was quite a challenge, but a very satisfying one, with the usual great clues, good surfaces and crafty misdirections.
We always expect a theme from Serpent and this grid cried out ‘nina’, but it took us a while to find it. In the end, we needed some electronic help to sort out the name of the American multi-sportswoman who won two gold medals in track and field at the 1932 Olympics. She not only broke world records in multiple sports but she also founded the Ladies Pro Golf Association. Her full name starts with the highlighted ‘M’ at 5d and runs clockwise round the perimeter.
If you would like to know more about her please click HERE.
She was quite an amazing woman. Thanks Serpent for introducing her to a wider audience.
cApE tOwN with the odd-numbered letters omitted or ‘ignored’
FR (French) + an anagram of QUEEN (anagrind is ‘unsettled’) + TED (Edward)
DON (Mafia boss) in HEIST (robbery)
MAR (harm) TYRo (novice) without the ‘o’ (love)
NAME (identify) PA (public address – ‘communication system’) all reversed or ‘returning’
HORN and PIPE (two instruments)
Hidden in, or ‘barred by’ jazZ IN Cafe
EX (former partner)+ LOT (fortune) reversed
DAD (old man) round or ‘accepting’ E (last letter of fate)
Cryptic definition
A homophone (‘reporter’s’) of TOFFY (associated with toffs – ‘posh people’)
OR (men, as in ‘other ranks’) DEAL (make drugs available)
An anagram of VICAR LET – anagrind is ‘in new order’
SETT (badger’s home underground) LET (allowed) round or ‘nursing’ MEN (staff)
A (article) with NIL (nothing) outside or ‘without’
An anagram of TEMPERED (anagrind is ‘bad’) round IV (four)
IN FOR (due to receive) M (first letter or ‘bit’ of manure)
Two Fs (female) replacing the two ‘l’s (line) in AllIANCE
SET (firm) round or ‘screening’ N (first letter or ‘premiere’ of network)
RUM (strange) RUM (spirit) reversed or ‘summoned up’
ID (papers) after or ‘backing’ IN (popular) and PERT (forward) reversed or ‘returned’
L (Liberal) EnVY (‘green state’) without the ‘n’ (new)
A clue-as-definition: HOTEL would become HOsTEL (less luxurious accommodation) if an ‘s’ (son) is added or ‘accommodated’
PLAN (map) +AIR (display) ATE (had) reversed or ‘inverted’
Cryptic definition
A clue-as-definition: hidden in or ‘making extensive use of’ alLITERATIon
Double definition
R (right) in or ‘stopping’ F1 (Formula One) + END (dying)
R (first letter or ‘start’ of record) EEK (I’m frightened)
VIEw (see) with the ‘w’ (woman) omitted or ‘leaving’ + D (daughter)
Thanks to B+J for the blog. And, as you say, thanks to Serpent for introducing us to the subject. The grid suggested nina, but our first few answers included FREQUENTED and ZINC, so we were expecting a pangram, but in fact it wasn’t close.
CONFETTI brought a feeling of deja vu, as I think there’s been a similar clue for the same word recently. That didn’t help, however, as it was our last one in.
There was lots to like in the cluing, but the straightforward (in hindsight) NAIL was very neatly done.
And there was I thinking I’d be the first to spot the nina, but not a chance with B&J blogging! Mildred was known to her many fans as ‘Babe’, which is easier to remember than Mildred Ella Didrikson Zakarias. But why celebrate her today? It doesn’t coincide with her dates of birth and death. Perhaps Serpent would care to drop in to clarify. Thanks Serpent and B&J.
It was a struggle, but a fair and enjoyable struggle. Thank you for pointing out the NINA which, as ever, I didn’t spot.
Thanks to Serpent and B&J.
Sheer class as per usual from Serpent.
Sparkling surfaces and crying out for a perimeter message.
I googled MILDRED ELLA and hit the jackpot
Great fun and informative
Thanks Serpent and B&J
I actually spotted a theme in a puzzle earlier this week – but not today. Way too much off the beaten track for me. I might have had a hope if Mildred ran along the top line but not a prayer of spotting such an unusual collection of names starting in the top right.
Fortunately it wasn’t needed for the rest of the crossword which was pretty classy overall. One or two did ring bells – CONFETTI, as noted by DavidO @1 – along with EXTOL, ORDEAL and, possibly, VIED. But not enough to spoil enjoyment. I thought the surface and clue for DEAD was hysterical, I solved but didn’t parse NAIL being fixated on ‘article’ as definition and not even thinking about ‘digital protection’ – Doh! I loved the simplicity of both MARTYR and FREQUENTED, the construction of both SETTLEMENT and PLANETARIA, the two hidden words – especially LITERATI with its gloriously appropriate surface, and the device for arriving at AFFIANCE. I did raise an eyebrow slightly at the definition for APEMAN and this is the second really creative clue for VERTICAL I’ve seen in the last week or so.
Finally, there was a discussion on the Guardian site this week as to whether clues should be uniquely solvable without crossers or whether they are an integral part. My first stab at 2d – Grass due to receive a bit of manure (6) – resulted in MOWING. ‘owing’ being ‘due’ receiving the ‘m’ from manure. It is not uncommon to hear the cut grass resulting from the action of mowing to be described by the same word. “Put the mowing in the compost bin”. So I would suggest it’s a valid solution. Only the crossers determine the INFORM solution. (And, inevitably, I’d entered my incorrect option before trying to make the across clues work – leading to some head scratching!)
Thanks Serpent and B&J for your diligence and the link to a pretty incredible lady
all according to plan… except the Nina!.. ah well 1 per year is better than none..
thanks Serpent and Bertandjoyce
An interesting Nina and the as ever enjoyable challenge from Serpent. Took a while to spot CONFETTI, despite variations on the theme having appeared elsewhere recently as others have pointed out, but did manage to see where the ‘what Labour promises to deliver’ was going pretty quickly to make up for it.
Favourites were the inventive ‘unnatural sound from organ’ and the well-hidden ‘Extremely’ definitions.
Thanks to Serpent and B&J
The thing with Serpent, I have to remind myself, is not to panic. It is a challenge but if you keep working, everything you need is there. And so it was. Very enjoyable and, as ever, an informative blog from Bertandjoyce, so thanks all round.
Didn’t want to get into the Guardian’s crossers debate but I think PostMark’s example for 2d supports a view that, before any other answers are inserted, all the clues in a puzzle can never be uniquely solvable.
Many thanks to bertandjoyce for the excellent blog and to everyone who has taken the time to solve and comment.
I can’t remember how I came to hear about Babe Zaharias, but I couldn’t help but be impressed by her amazing career and thought it would be nice to include her in a puzzle.
A steady solve, and although I spotted Zaharias part way through I decided to complete the grid before googling to check the rest of the nina. I typed in Zaharias Mil and that was enough.
Super puzzle as always from Serpent.
We spotted Mildred first of all and our first thought for the nina was ‘George and Mildred’ but a few other letters immediately ruled that idea out. Then we got Ella but the rest of the nina was a mystery till we googled some of the letter sequences and the other names slowly emerged. Finally googling ‘Mildred Ella …’ revealed all without typing in the rest.
Quite a challenge today, but worth persevering with. Favourite was REDEMPTIVE once we twigged that ‘bad’ was an anagram indicator.
Thanks, Serpent and B&J.