Part of a literary work (13 words) goes clockwise around the perimeter starting from square 1. Remaining unclued lights are anagrams of five words which make up a key image from the work. Letters in the twenty unchecked perimeter squares could give: DIT WHERE I CHIDE and SEDUCE. Elsewhere, ignore one apostrophe.
Across
10 One goes in hospital department with hesitation touching back (7)
11 Boat touring home land (6)
14 Bird caught in low country (7)
15 Naive politician, Liberal, one’s put in place (9)
16 Detachment to join up again? (7)
20 Nasty sneers in which Conservative shows discrimination (7)
21 Old bombast from religious figure (5)
23 Artificial covering tearing awkwardly (7)
25 Wanderers getting order in battle to retreat (7)
28 Pick up what’s ultimately going spare (5)
32 Mum swears they’re kids (7)
34 Punter wants this extremely raunchy kiss (6)
36 Swinging artist gatecrashes parties (9)
39 Quiet speakers turned round to leave (5)
40 Dropped a needy imbecile (6)
41 Understanding some of 3 x 10? (7)
Down
2 Dye area by zip (4)
3 Dolly, say, covered in small child’s water (6, hyphened)
4 Knight, one taking plunge during contest (8)
5 Ox eating capital part of crustacean (7)
6 Raised note on piano interrupts beat on one instrument (7)
7 Irish writer happening to store cheese (6)
8 Said to want sign of approval for acid (6)
9 Princess and prince accepting money for plants (9)
13 Like to fix up savings account (5)
18 Eddy’s a slippery customer with women (4)
19 Gateway’s low quality with a pale sculpted outside (9)
24 Terrorists in working vehicle turned up in sea battle (8)
26 Paper covers stolen government weapon (7)
27 Country that was not out to stop period of global revolution (7)
29 English and British national purchase (5)
30 Current runs in circuit’s raised coil (6)
31 Tells future writers to abandon book (6)
33 Staple food around Hungary: special mint (6)
37 Woman’s tedious period with husband (4)
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 29 October. There are two runners-up prizes of £20 (or, for UK solvers, the latest edition of The Chambers Dictionary — ring the word ‘Dictionary’). Entries to: Crossword 2084, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.
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