Enigmatic Variations 1605 Who, where and when by Ifor

by

Four clues with four or more consecutive letters to be removed which can then be used to identify who, where and when in conjunction with the extra letter instruction in the other clues. Change one letter in the final grid to reveal the WHO.

The extra letters yielded two instructions.

CALCULATE PRODUCT OF CLUE NUMBERS (i.e. those 4 that need consecutive letters removed)

31ac x 2dn x 4dn x 8dn = 1984 (The when)

ORDER STRINGS (the consecutive letters removed giving)

THE NAPOLEON OF NOTTING HILL 

Now that needs a google as I can’t recall that character in 1984 – though WINSTON SMITH is almost visible in column 8. This is a novel by GK Chesterton set in 1984 about ADAM WAYNE who crosses WINSTON SMITH where the L is the starting cell of 23.

A classic misdirection from the obvious character to another one.

Thanks Ifor – nice false predicted ending. Also quite a challenge this week too.

 

Key * anagram; Rev reversed, DD double definition, underline definition

Across
1 First notes in lost octave no longer displaying care (3)
C 1 First notes in lost octave no longer displaying are (3)
Utas (octave) – a (are) = UTS
5 Buffet’s downstairs, with no end of tea (4)
A 5 Buffet‘s downstairs, with no end of te (4)
Below (downstairs) – e (no end of te) = BLOW
9 Local ignoring outsiders in Colombian flood (3)
L 9 Local ignoring outsiders in Colombian food (3)
Local – ll = OCA
11 Horses scent farriers (6)
C 11 Horses sent farriers (6)
(horses)* = SHOERS
12 Damage caused by sulphur trioxide (4)
U 12 Damage cased by sulphur trioxide (4)
Hidden sulpHUR Trioxide = HURT
13 Goal’s alcohol, provided bottles not previously returned (4)
L 13 Goa’s alcohol, provided bottles not previously returned (4)
Rev. if (provided) around ne (not previously) = FENI
14 Support dray with the entire amount going (3)
A 14 Support dry with the entire amount going (3)
Teetotal(dray) – total (entre amount) = TEE
16 Grasps recurrently crooked rental charges resolution (8)
T 16 Grasps recurrently crooked renal charges resolution (8)
Res(resolution) around (renal)* = RELEARNS
17 Event might be closed by this time (before a meal) (3)
E 17 Vent might be closed by this time (before a meal) (3)
t (time) + ap (before a meal) = TAP
18 Cabinet without Conservative spent about double (6)
P 18 Cabinet without Conservative sent about double (6)
(cabinet – c)* = BINATE
19 Rangers sides to select primarily young stock (6}
R 19 angers sides to select primarily young stock (6}
Irks(angers) after st(sides to select) = STIRKS
21 Modern Greek spies overseas returning to room (6)
O 21 Modern Greek spies overseas returning to rom (6)
Rev. cia(spies overseas) After rom = ROMAIC
22 Supposed grave concealing record (5)
D 22 Suppose grave concealing record (5)
Sad (grave) around ep (record) = SEPAD
23 Playboy pursuing crude sexual encounter (3)
U 23 Playboy pursing crude sexual encounter (3)
Hidden pLAYboy = LAY
24 Former cover measure in print reversed issue recalled… (7)
C 24 Former over measure in print reversed issue recalled… (7)
Rev. emit (issue) + en (measure in print) + o (over) = ONETIME
25 …needs hideouts cut beforehand (5)
T 25 …needs hideous cut beforehand (5)
(needs)* = SNEED
26 Deceitful cures abandoned after lead’s spoilt (4)
O 26 Deceitful cures abandoned after lead’s spilt (4)
(cures – c)* = RUSE
28 Frank reproof to a dog (4)
F 28 Rank reproof to a dog (4)
DD RATE
31 I’d lengthen a polemic with a furious haranguing (10)
THE NAPOLE 31 I’d leng mic with a furious haranguing (10)
(idlengmic + a)* = DECLAIMING
35 Lice left warm and dry (4)
C 35 Lie left warm and dry (4)
l (left) + air (warm and dry) = LAIR
36 Cartel regularly dropped weary habit (6)
L 36 Carte regularly dropped weary habit (6)
cArTe + tire(weary) = ATTIRE
37 Russian measures formerly misusing hospital’s toxic compounds (7)
U 37 Russian measures formerly missing hospital’s toxic compounds (7)
Arshines (Russian measures) – h (hospital) = ARSINES
38 Score of zero below, nearly bowled (4)
E 38 Score of zero blow, nearly bowled (4)
Blow – w + b (bowled) = BLOB
39 Violent, missing first half, left out for older players (3)
N 39 Violet, missing first half, left out for older players (3)
Violet – vio (half) = LET
40 Antelope being among best in auction (8)
U 40 Antelope being among best in action (8)
(best)* around esse (being) = TSESSEBE
Down
1 Moneylender’s early operations masked by dodgy sums (7)
M 1 Moneylender’s early operations masked by dodgy sus (7)
Ures (early operations) in (sus)* = USURESS
2 Point to danger of earth switched on often (8)
ON OF 2 Point to danger of earth switched ten (8)
(earth)* + ten = THREATEN
3 Waste conveyers ground boats, perhaps (9, two words)
B 3 Waste conveyers ground oats, perhaps (9, two words)
Soil(ground) + pipes (oats) = SOIL PIPES
4 Shilling bracelet left on elbow in error (9)
HILL 4 Sing bracelet left on elbow in error (9)
(bracelet)* + e  = CELEBRATE
5 Intelligence spearing name holding a party in Jo’burg (5)
E 5 Intelligence sparing name holding a party in Jo’burg (5)
Brain (intelligence) – n Around a = BRAAI
6 Welcoming run out for emperor and chancery (9)
R 6 Welcoming run out for emperor and chancey (9)
(emperor and – r)* = OPEN-ARMED
7 Victory crew sinking ships (3)
S 7 Victory crew inking ships (3)
Hidden crew INking = WIN
8 Sheriff in Nottingham ultimately aware Robin’s not died in revolt (8)
NOTTING 8 Sheriff in ham ultimately aware Robin’s not died in revolt (8)
(ham + rins + e (ultimately aware))* = SHIREMAN
9 You shuffled with tarot cards, maybe sent from here (7)
O 9 You shuffled with tart cards, maybe sent from here (7)
(you + tart)* = OUTTRAY
10 Chemical increasing muscle mass found trending into fashion (8)
R 10 Chemical increasing muscle mass found tending into fashion (8)
create (fashion) around in (found) = CREATINE
15 Funeral ode that is driven by deceased turning up under extreme pressure (7)
D 15 Funeral ode that is riven by deceased turning up under extreme pressure (7)
ep(extreme pressure) + ie (that is) around Rev dec(deceased) == EPICEDE
20 Plants in vase at last overcoming introduction of parasites (8)
E 20 Plants in vase at last overcoming introduction of parasites (8)
SAMPIRES
24 Trying experience before dread treatment (6)
R 24 Trying experience before dead treatment (6)
or (before dead) + deal(treatment) = ORDEAL
25 Forgers miss most of the smelting (6)
S 25 Forgers miss most of the melting (6)
(miss + th)* = SMITHS
27 Tweak tip of nose leaving infant distraught (5)
T 27 Weak tip of nose leaving infant distraught (5)
(infant – n)* = FAINT
29 Doughboy trucked into festival that’s finished with free joints (5)
R 29 Doughboy tucked into festival that’s finished with free joints (5)
Gi(doughboy) in ale (festival) = AGILE
30 Both married, right within heartbeat (5)
I 30 Both marred, right within heartbeat (5)
(both)* around r (right) = THROB
32 Deny responsibility, supporting elderly judiciary (4)
N 32 Dey responsibility, supporting elderly judiciary (4)
dEY Responsibility = EYRE
33 Prostrate, watch face moving ground (4)
G 33 Prostrate, watch face moving round (4)
Rev. dial (watch face) = LAID
34 Shrub climbing fences behind borders (4)
S 34 Shrub climbing fence behind borders (4)
Rev. hidden fencE BEHind = HEBE

5 comments on “Enigmatic Variations 1605 Who, where and when by Ifor”

  2. Advice needed (also sought on Bigdave44). Having won the coveted pen and book do I continue to submit my entries? Very aware of threat to this delightful puzzle and have campaigned on its behalf in the past.

  3. Hi Connie
    Congratulations on your win.

    I’ve won in the past and I still submit entries.
    As you said, the puzzle is under threat. A high number of submissions should be seen as evidence that the puzzle is popular and should be retained.

  5. Worried to hear the puzzle is under threat. It regularly provides an enjoyable Sunday morning when a friend and I tackle it together. But I don’t send it in, because usually we don’t quite finish it!

Comments are closed.