After a very slow(-witted) start, during which I crept hesitantly round the edge of the grid and worked my way laboriously inward, it became apparent that tthis was something of a tour de force by Redshank.
Two stylistic mini-themes to enjoy here: a set of dazzling &lits (14ac, 4dn, 9dn, 3dn), and the invention of some splendidly outlandish indicators (trousers and curtains to indicate an envelope, for example). Plus two clever Pope-related openers (Popeners, if you will) to get us started. A joy. Thank-you, Redshank.
| Across | ||
| 1 | SATIRIST | Pope, say, took it out of returning teacher (8) |
| Reversal of sir [teacher] within sat it [took it (i.e. an exam)] | ||
| 5 | FATWAS | Arab bulls used to be plump at the front (6) |
| Fat [plump] was [used to be] – “bull” is used as in “Papal bull” | ||
| 10 | RADICAL | Gunners ring round clubs for a left-winger (7) |
| RA [Royal Artillery, gunners] c [clubs] within dial [ring] | ||
| 11 | LOOPIER | It’s more absurd to play polo? That’s right (7) |
| Anagram of polo i.e. [id est, that is] r [right] | ||
| 12 | OBEAH | Zombie oath appearing regularly? (5) |
| Regular letters from zOmBiE oAtH | ||
| 13 | SCARECROW | Crop Guardian spread about 100- acre ground rent’s source (9) |
| Anagram of C [hundred] acre r(ent) within sow [spread] | ||
| 14 | PROPHETESSES | These pros performed with ESP (12) |
| Anagram of these pros ESP | ||
| 18 | EAU DE COLOGNE | I’d forgotten I need a good clue (anagram) for “scent” (3,2,7) |
| Anagram of I need a good clue minus I’d | ||
| 21 | ALMA MATER | Old school masters adjust trousers (4,5) |
| MA MA [Masters (of Arts)] within alter | ||
| 23 | ENEMA | Soldiers go back during each evacuation (5) |
| Reversal of men [soldiers] within ea [each] | ||
| 24 | SUNBURN | A French poet’s last to start holiday complaint (7) |
| Un [French for “a”] Burns [poet] with the final s transposed | ||
| 25 | IRIDIUM | “Heavy metal” in Irish parlance, say (7) |
| Ir [Irish] idium [sounds like “idiom”, parlance] | ||
| 26 | DODGEM | Odd flying stone struck car (6) |
| Anagram of odd gem [stone] | ||
| 27 | MEDELLIN | I’ll need rebels with money up front in Colombia (8) |
| M [money] anagram of I’ll need | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | SERMON | Address in Rome’s surprisingly close to Vatican (6) |
| Anagram of romes (Vatica)n | ||
| 2 | TIDIED | I’d drawn curtains and cleaned up (6) |
| I’d within tied [drawn] | ||
| 3 | RACEHORSE | Shergar once sadly no good after abduction (9) |
| Anagram of shergar once minus NG [no good] | ||
| 4 | SELF-SUPPORTING | Props and ties flung away? (4-10) |
| Anagram of props ties flung | ||
| 6 | ADORE | Picked up piece of pterodactyl as prize (5) |
| Hidden in reversal of ptERODActyl | ||
| 7 | WAITRESS | Server was down – engineer tries to get in (8) |
| Anagram of tries within was – the “down” seems redundant | ||
| 8 | SHREWISH | Like Kate, she inspires rare desire (8) |
| R [rare] within she wish [desire] – the allusion is to The Taming Of The Shrew | ||
| 9 | ALSACE-LORRAINE | A sorry allegiance crudely ignoring Germany’s borders? (6-8) |
| Anagram of a sorry alliance minus g(erman)y | ||
| 15 | ERNIE WISE | Prize distributor we impressed is a deluded TV playwright (5,4) |
| Ernie [prize distributor (the name of the computer that selects Premium Bond winners)] is within we | ||
| 16 | RELAPSED | Dropped back and fell asleep in road (8) |
| Ansgram of asleep within rd [road] | ||
| 17 | SUMMONED | Some said doctor screened one as ordered (8) |
| Sum [sounds like “some”] one within MD [doctor] |
||
| 19 | AERIAL | Dish a material that’s not dull (6) |
| A material minus mat [dull] | ||
| 20 | BARMAN | He serves a vacated room during Prohibition (6) |
| A r(oo)m within ban [prohibition] | ||
| 22 | MOUSE | Pout about soprano and get a black eye (5) |
| S [soprano] within moue [pout] | ||
Absolute cracker! 9dn is a truly brilliant &lit
Thanks to Redshank and Ringo
I entirely endorse the comments here. Storming stuff. Thanks to blogger and setter.
Thanks, Ringo, for a superb blog of a superb puzzle.
I’d add EAU DE COLOGNE to the stunners that you’ve mentioned but its excellent clung all round. [ I liked the picture in ALMA MATER, too!]
Huge thanks, as ever, to Redshank.
Oops – ‘it’s excellent cluing’, of course.
Thanks Ringo, this is a top-notch offering from Redshank. One great clue after another, not a showy and flashy puzzle but an exhibition of superb craftsmanship all the way through.
What more is there to say? Everyone else has said it. Thanks Ringo, and above all to Redshank for some breath-taking clues.
Hornbeam has written what I would have said. Thanks to the two Rs from me too.
Fantastic puzzle, some absolute crackers. When a setter has put this much work, i half expect a bit more Nina or theme wise but if there is it’s lost on me.
No journey man piece of work for sure. Thanks Redshank & Ringo – you got a good ‘un
Wonderful puzzle, thanks Redshank (and Ringo). Too many ticks to list.
Sorry, everyone, I was too enchanted to ask: why is a mouse a black eye?
Hi Hornbeam @10
Def. #10 in Chambers under ‘mouse’ – “a black eye, or discoloured swelling (slang)”. Sorry but it doesn’t give a derivation.
Agree with all above. Barely ever do the ft, but picked it up on a vacated tube seat and almost missed my stop I was enjoying it so much. Cracker.
Agree with all above – superb puzzle in every respect.