Independent 11,218/Italicus

Italicus is featuring regularly as the Monday setter these days. This was a well-constructed puzzle with some clever twists, which I enjoyed solving and blogging.

Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed

definitions are underlined

 

Across

1 Beast stalked regularly visited Sussex town
BATTLE
The odd letters of BeAsT sTaLkEd.

4 Nationalist involved in low ruse essentially traded exclusive rights
MONOPOLY
There’s a bit going on is some Italicus clues, n’est-ce pas? A charade of N inserted into MOO for ‘low’ (‘the cattle are lowing’) and the central letters of PLOY for ‘ruse’ swapped around. The insertion indicator is ‘involved in’ and the invitation to reverse the central letters is ‘essentially traded’.

10 One who imposes order on masses
LITURGIST
A cd. Think Catholic ‘masses’.

11 Nothing fine about grand affair
FLING
A reversal of NIL and F, followed by G.

12 Communist touring Italy left in a huff
RILED
An insertion of I and L in RED. The insertion indicator is ‘touring’.

13 Academic papers about Foreign Office backing US state
PROFESSOR
An insertion of FO reversed in PRESS, followed by OR for Oregon. The reversal indicator is ‘backing’; the insertion indicator is ‘about’.

14 Pirate captain discovered text revealing climactic events
ORGASMS
Your ‘pirate captain’ is Captain MORGAN, the 17th-century Welsh privateer of the Caribbean. Then it’s [M]ORGA[N] plus SMS for Short Message Service, which is what most folk call texts. Those old-fashioned folk who still use them, at any rate.

16 Threat of disaster is known
RISK
Hidden in disasteR IS Known.

19 Tree line crossed by tailless feline
PLUM
An insertion of L in PUM[A].

21 Food from tin enraged lion
CANNOLI
A charade of CAN and (LION)* with ‘enraged’ as the anagrind. Not to be confused with CANNELONI.

24 Lone buck roaming Germany without obstruction
UNBLOCKED
A charade of (LONE BUCK)* and D for Deutschland. The anagrind is ‘roaming’.

25 Vessels primarily serving pelvic region
SHIPS
A charade of S for the initial letter of ‘serving’ and HIPS.

26 Universal measure adopted by soldier outfitting company
GUCCI
An insertion of U and CC for cubic centimetre in GI. The insertion indicator is ‘adopted by’.

27 Working hollow platitude into speech
OPERATION
An insertion of P[LATITUD]E in ORATION. The insertion indicator is ‘into’.

28 Park most eye suspiciously, including yours truly
YOSEMITE
An insertion of I in (MOST EYE)* with ‘suspiciously’ as the anagrind. The insertion indicator is ‘including’.

29 Servant girl grabbing Romeo’s tool
WRENCH
Please. We like to think we have a bit of class on this thread. An insertion of R for the phonetic alphabet ‘Romeo’ in WENCH. The insertion indicator is ‘grabbing’.

Down

1 Space for dancing bear to hold hands with maiden
BALLROOM
Not Simon Smith and his amazing dancing bear … but the easygoing BALOO from The Jungle Book. Put the two ‘hands’ – L and R – inside him, add an M for ‘maiden’ and you’ve got your ‘space for dancing’. The insertion indicator is ‘to hold’.

2 King, say, besieging city given earl’s protection
TUTELAGE
A charade of TUT for the ‘king’, LA inserted into EG for ‘say’ and E. The insertion indicator is ‘besieging’.

3 Sensational cover featuring high-class stripper’s bottom
LURID
An insertion of U and R for the last letter of ‘stripper’ in LID. The insertion indicator is ‘covering’.

5 Best starts to opening round in The Open?
OUTDOOR
A charade of OUTDO for ‘best’ in its verbal sense and OR for the initial letters of ‘opening’ and ’round’.

6 Quiet period back on terra firma depresses child
OFF-SEASON
Whimiscally, if you are ‘back on terra firma’, then you are OFF SEA. Add SON to that and you’ve got your answer.

7 Sloth’s middle toe is, surprisingly, superfluous
OTIOSE
(O TOE IS)* with ‘surprisingly’ as the anagrind.

8 Turn up in nomad’s tent for dairy produce
YOGURT
A reversal (‘up’, since it’s a down clue) of GO in YURT. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.

9 Trendy model ultimately abandoned endangered species
HIPPOS
A charade of HIP and POS[E]. They are endangered, and also dangerous. Over 500 humans killed by them every year, since you ask.

15 German is taken in by Molly’s revolutionary argument
SYLLOGISM
An insertion of G IS in MOLLYS reversed. The insertion indicator is ‘taken in by’.

17 Record agents breaking in exponent of 15s
LOGICIAN
A charade of LOG and CIA inserted into IN. The insertion indicator is ‘breaking’.

18 Mouth of lake originally inspired unfinished film about Norway
LIP-SYNCH
A charade of L, I for the initial letter of ‘inspired’ and N inserted into PSYCH[O]. The insertion indicator is ‘about’.

20 Perceive what Americans do down Lovers Lane
MAKE OUT
A dd.

21 Charlie arranged duel outside golf club
CUDGEL
A charade of C for the phonetic alphabet ‘Charlie’ and G for the phonetic alphabet ‘golf’ inserted into (DUEL)* The anagrind is ‘arranged’ and the insertion indicator is ‘outside’.

22 Ravenous chinchilla finally leaves country
HUNGRY
HUNG[A]RY

23 A blackleg upset nursing union? You can count on it!
ABACUS
A charade of A and U inserted into SCAB reversed. The insertion indicator is ‘nursing’.

25 Steps of area within prison
STAIR
An insertion of A in STIR. The insertion indicator is ‘within’.

Many thanks to Italicus for the start to the Indy week.